Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 4

Written Answers. - Departmental Advertising.

Nora Owen

Question:

144 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of advertisements in written media, radio or television since July 1997 that have contained a reference to the Minister by name or title; the number he has actually appeared or spoken in; if any instructions have been issued to companies or advertising agencies that when advertising a particular scheme or project sponsored by their Department, the Minister or the Government is to be included; the costs of all such advertisements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16425/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

As the Deputy will appreciate my Department deals with a wide range of issues and as such would have placed a number of advertisements since July 1997. While some of the advertisements may have contained a reference to me, particularly by title, the Deputy will appreciate that records are not maintained by my Department in a way which would enable the information requested by the Deputy to be made readily available and that the information could only be compiled by diverting substantial staff resources from other important work.

I can, however, confirm that in relation to advertising, I have not appeared on television or spoken on radio.

Under EU regulations, agencies involved in the implementation of EU co-funded measures under the NDP are required to put in place appropriate arrangements to promote the measure and the fact that it is receiving support from EU Structural Funds. As part of this process, and in order to promote and raise awareness of the measures under the national development plan among potential beneficiaries and the public at large, the Government approved a communications strategy for the NDP which includes the use of an NDP logo and of the EU logo where appropriate. In this regard, the detailed "Identity Guidelines for the National Development Plan Logo", approved by the Government, require that the phrase "Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000 to 2006" must be included prominently in all relevant publicity materials, advertisements, information leaflets and application forms. Reference to the EU Structural Funds must also be included where a measure is co-financed by the EU. My Department and the agencies operating under its aegis are implementing these guidelines in respect of NDP related measures.

I have no information on the specific cost of including the NDP logo and text. However, as the particular advertisements would be placed anyway, the added cost of including the NDP logo would be negligible.