Enda Kenny
Question:8 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the cost of the communications unit in his Department during the period January to May 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15403/04]
View answerTuesday, 15 June 2004
Questions (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
Enda Kenny
Question:9 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the role of Government Information Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15410/04]
View answer
Pat Rabbitte
Question:10 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the work of the Government Information Service and the communications unit within his Department. [16325/04]
View answer
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:11 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the Government Information Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17236/04]
View answer
Trevor Sargent
Question:12 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the Government Information Service and the communications unit within his Department. [17634/04]
View answerOral answers (23 contributions)
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, together.
The total cost of the communications unit from January to date is €112,787. Some €23,388 is a direct cost to my Department with, on average, €17,879 being borne by the five other Departments which have staff seconded to the unit.
The unit provides a media information service to Ministers and their Departments. It furnishes news updates and transcripts which ensure that Departments are kept informed in a fast and efficient manner of any relevant news developments. In this way, Departments are able to provide a better service to the public.
The communications unit works an 18-hour day based on a flexible rota of three working shifts. The unit is staffed by six established civil servants, five of whom are seconded from other Departments. The work of the unit means that Departments have greatly reduced their use of external companies and ensure they no longer duplicate work such as transcripts and tapes. The communications unit is estimated to save Departments in excess of €200,000 per annum.
The Government Information Service, in conjunction with the Government Press Office, provides an information service on Government policy to the public through the national and international media on behalf of myself, my Department and the Government. It also promotes a co-ordinated approach to media matters across all Departments.
The Government Information Service issues ministerial public engagements, both national and international, to the media on a weekly basis. It works with the NDP and community support framework information office to heighten public awareness and understanding of the national development plan. It edits and produces a newsletter on social inclusion on behalf of my Department. Together with the Government Press Office and the Department of Foreign Affairs, the GIS organises and manages the media aspects of State visits and major State occasions. Currently, the GIS is working closely with the EU Presidency press office to assist with the smooth running of the media elements of significant EU Presidency events.
Will the Taoiseach confirm whether any member of the communications unit or Government Information Service was in any way involved in making complaints to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland which led to the gagging of independent radio stations in the run into the local elections? The vast majority of media coverage leading up to those elections was election related. Was the work of the unit suspended in any way to deal with that issue given that most of the coverage was political? Was any member of staff at either unit involved in making a complaint to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland with regard to coverage on the "Morning Ireland" programme of Thursday, 10 June, in regard to the Ringsend waste treatment plant involving Deputy Gormley of the Green Party? Perhaps the Taoiseach would like to comment.
The answer to all the questions, except one, is "No". The Deputy asked if the office suspended its work during the election. No, it did not. It continued to provide the same service as it does most days of the year, which is giving out the data on newspaper headlines, tapes and transcripts to Departments and agencies. In regard to the other questions, no member of the GIS or the communications unit was involved.
I will allow a brief question from Deputy Kenny because other Deputies have submitted questions.
Some of those headlines obviously made bad news for the Government parties. They would not have had to have——
The Deputy is making a statement. I call Deputy Rabbitte. Four Deputies have submitted questions.
The Chair does not have to start another row. How does the Chair know I am making a statement?
The Deputy started off making a statement about——
The Chair is presuming I am making a statement.
There are only five minutes remaining and I want to try to facilitate each Deputy who has submitted a question.
I will mark it down that the Chair knows what I am going to say.
I do not know what the Deputy is going to say but the Deputy was making a statement. I asked the Deputy to ask a brief question. He was already in once. I call Deputy Rabbitte.
What is the connection between the communications unit and the headquarters of Fianna Fáil?
None, absolutely none.
Is the Taoiseach aware of the number of examples that would imply a connection? For example, is he aware of a phone caller to a particular provincial radio station complaining there was no debate on the referendum and two minutes after the programme ended, a phone call from Mount Street offered a Minister to debate the referendum in the context of the phonecall just received? Is that coincidence?
Probably coincidence.
It is not coincidence because the communications unit does not listen to or monitor local provincial radio. I am glad to hear Mount Street is more efficient than I thought.
What role, if any, has the Government Information Service and the communications unit in the Taoiseach's Department in regard to monitoring the peace process? Is any member of the staff of either tasked with monitoring the newspaper reportage and, particularly, the British newspaper reportage? I do not mean the Irish editions of British newspapers but British newspapers aimed at the readership in the island of Britain. It is important that the perception or understanding of people on the island of Britain of the political situation on the island of Ireland are of the best. Is this being monitored? Will the Taoiseach advise if either of those bodies is doing it and, if not, why not?
That is being done and has been done for many years. It is not done by the communications unit but it is done in conjunction with the embassy in London and the press office of the Department of Foreign Affairs. There is a close watch, examination and monitoring of articles, editorials and debates in Westminster. This is done comprehensively and is very useful.
Will the Taoiseach agree there is some difficulty in distinguishing between the interests of Fianna Fáil and the interests of the State in regard to the diplomatic bag? Was any member of the Government Information Service involved in sending out that letter to embassies and the diplomatic corps around the world?
Does he agree that it is in contravention of Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 and rules adopted by the International Law Commission in 1989? Has he taken action on it, as the Minister for Foreign Affairs indicated? Was the Government Information Service involved in that?
Is it related to the questions before the House?
That was the issue. Was the Government Information Service involved in that?
No member of the communications units was involved in any such issues. My understanding is that none of those issues is a problem.