Vol. 446 No. 7
172 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the person who authorised, organised and attended the press briefing provided to invited journalists by a civil servant in his Department on Wednesday, 26 October 1994. [2949/94]
173 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the role and function of a public relations consultancy company (details supplied) in the organisation of a press briefing provided for invited journalists by a civil servant in his Department on Wednesday, 26 October 1994; the nature of the advice provided by the company; and the amount paid for this advice. [2950/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together.
In response to requests from journalists to help clarify their understanding of a detailed statement which I had delivered to the Dáil earlier that day, and to facilitate a full understanding of the issues, I authorised the holding of an informal, off-the-record briefing by a civil servant from my Department on Wednesday, 26 October 1994.
The briefing was organised by one of my Department's press officers who participated together with an assistant secretary of my Department. Also in attendance was a representative of the public relations consultancy firm under contract to my Department. The normal practice relating to such informal briefings was followed.
No particular payment to the consultancy firm attached to this briefing, the Department has an annual contract with this firm for the provision of public relations advice covering a range of sectors and activities for which the Department has responsibility.
