Vol. 517 No. 1
58 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the expenditure her Department has incurred since her appointment in 1997 in the public relations and consultancy area; the departmental staff resources allocated to this area of activity; and the contacts or the names of any public relations firms which have been hired by her Department in this regard. [8728/00]
Mr. Richard Moore is employed by me as press adviser. He was also press adviser to two previous Ministers, Deputies Lowry and Dukes. He is employed on a contract basis subject to the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956, and his remuneration at present is £46,046. This is paid for out of my Department's voted salaries subhead.
There are no persons or consultants working in a public relations or similar capacity in my Department. I do an amount of that myself. However, a notice has issued and proposals have been received for public relations services in connection with the flotation of Aer Lingus.
The only public relations expenditure incurred by my Department since my appointment in 1997 has been £335 paid to Graphic Display Systems which was employed by my Department to provide a back-drop at a rail safety conference in March 1999 and the final amount paid to Citigate Dewe Rogerson consultants for their work in 1999 on the marketing and public relations aspects of the Telecom Éireann IPO.
If she does not avail of external public relations advice or consultancy, will the Minister explain why Ms Terry Prone of Carr Communications describes the Minister as "her greatest achievement"? Does the Minister's party employ this company or what exactly is her relationship to Ms Prone or the advice proffered by her?
Ms Prone proffers no advice to me. I know her in a social capacity. I do not employ her. I do not have an adviser or a consultant. I do not employ public relations people.
Perhaps that is what is wrong.
The Deputy frequently tells me I am spinning.
That is done by Mr. Moore.
Mr. Moore was employed by two previous Fine Gael Ministers.
I am aware of that.
I retained him and I was very glad and very honoured to have his services. He is a decent worker and I would think the two previous Ministers found the same. He is honourable and has never mentioned any Minister for whom he previously worked. I regard that as a good mark of anyone.
I know Terry Prone socially. I am honoured that she should think I am a great achievement but I do not employ her.
So long as she does not send the Minister a bill.
Does the Minister agree that Richard Moore, who has been named in the House as an employee of the Department, does an excellent job? Regardless of who the Minister might be he does the same work. Is the Minister the slightest bit jealous of the Minister of State in the light of the positive publicity he has enjoyed from his recent actions on Sellafield?
I am delighted. I thank the Deputy for paying a compliment to Richard Moore. Since the Minister of State and I took over our responsibilities in the Department, Sellafield has been an item on the agenda for our weekly management meetings. Whether there is something to report, Deputy Jacob always makes a contribution to the meeting on that item.
