Vol. 438 No. 4
6 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach the amount of finance paid to media and communications companies by his Department in 1992 and 1993; the names of the companies involved; the nature of the services provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Carr Communications were retained by my Department in 1993 to provide assistance and advice to me as Taoiseach, and to Ministers of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, on all matters relating to the media — radio, television and print media.
Payments made in 1993 amount to £35,370, inclusive of VAT.
What percentage of the £35,000 related to advice and grooming in relation to the Taoiseach's performance at the Beef Tribunal? What is the need for the services of a public relations company at a cost of £35,000 to the taxpayer if one is dispensing the facts? Why is there a need to varnish the truth?
I refer the Deputy to my reply to similar questions on a number of occasions, one of which was in respect of Question No. 54 of 27 April 1993 where I stated that it has always been the practice to employ consultants, Fine Gael should know that. In fact, it upped the ante in relation to that in 1983 to 1987.
We did not have a Beef Tribunal.
What about all the handlers and fondlers? It has always been the practice to employ consultants on the basis of proven skills and expertise in particular fields. The established practice was followed in relation to the retention of Carr Communications.
In view of the fact that taxpayers, the public purse, are paying the bill, will the Taoiseach indicate if tenders were invited for these services? Is there not a tendering procedure in regard to such matters?
That is a tender question.
Deputy Higgins should not ask me that question. He should ask his colleagues about the practice in this regard.
The Taoiseach's party has been in Government for the past six years and the Taoiseach should answer the question.
I am following the practice set by the people who went before me.
They could be put into intervention at this stage.
We now come to deal with priority questions for which 20 minutes only are provided under Standing Orders. Due to an error six questions tabled to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment were omitted from today's Order Paper. Those questions are included in a supplementary Order Paper which has been circulated to Members. I assure Members that those questions will be treated in every respect as if they had appeared on the Order Paper proper. I regret the nature of the error and my office is investigating how it arose.
