Neither I, my private office, the Minister of State, Deputy McDaid, his private office, nor my Department was asked to provide briefing material for local election candidates by any political party. In response to requests and queries, my Department provides material to members of the public, including public representatives of all parties and no parties, on an ongoing basis across the range of policy areas for which my Department has responsibility.
My Department receives regular requests from all political parties for information relating to the activities of my Department to assist their press and research offices in the preparation of speeches and other material for members of their parties. Dealing with these requests generally involves provision of raw material, which is already a matter of public record through answers to parliamentary questions, press releases, speeches or existing briefing material.