Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 4

Written Answers. - Departmental Advertising.

Nora Owen

Question:

67 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources 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 in which he has appeared or spoken; if 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. [16415/01]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey)

Neither I nor my predecessor as Minister for Marine and Natural Resources has appeared or spoken in any radio or television advertisement relating to my Department since July 1997. No instructions have been issued to public relations companies or agencies to include the Minister or the Government in advertisements for schemes or projects sponsored by the Department.

A considerable number of advertisements are placed in the print media by my Department, including a large number announcing the making of by-laws or statutory instruments which refer to the Minister by title and/or by name. It would not be practicable, given the amount of work which would be necessary, to furnish details of such advertisements or their cost since 1997.

Nora Owen

Question:

68 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs 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 in which he has appeared or spoken; if instructions have been issued to companies or advertising agencies that when advertising a 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. [16416/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

Advertisements were placed in the national newspapers on 1 and 2 April 2001 regarding the launch by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the White Paper on the Treaty of Nice, and its availability to the public. The cost of this advertisement came to a total of £29,255.21. Similarly, the launch of the Government's White Paper on the Treaty of Amsterdam by the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy David Andrews and its availability to the public, was advertised in the national press in February 1998. The cost of this advertisement came to £21,350.

Nora Owen

Question:

69 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise 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 in which she has appeared or spoken; if instructions have been issued to companies or advertising agencies that when advertising a scheme or project sponsored by their Department, the Minister or the Government is to be included; the costs of all such advertisements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16417/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

Following clarification by the Deputy that the above question relates only to advertisements where my title as Minister was used where normally the Department's name would have sufficed, I can confirm that no such advertisements were made since July 1997.