Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 January 2014
39. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail, in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; his internal Department policy regarding employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1867/14]
View answerFor the period referred to by the Deputy my Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations and communications services. From time to time, consultants or companies with a public relations and communications background are commissioned to provide other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management.
DHR Communications has been contracted since 2010 to manage and administer grants under the Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF). This involves managing two funding rounds each year, including through national and regional information workshops; managing and administering the application process; organising the judging process and providing detailed feedback to all applicants; processing grant payments and keeping detailed administrative and financial records; maintaining and updating the SCMF website and managing the SCMF student competition. DHR was awarded a two-year contract to 2012 and was re-engaged in February 2012 for a further two years following a competitive tendering process.
Following a competitive tendering process, DHR has been engaged to plan, manage and execute a national Africa Day flagship event in Dublin. This includes the administration of a small grants scheme for regional events which DHR managed on behalf of the Department in partnership with a number of local authorities. DHR also worked to raise public awareness of the Africa Day events, including through the use of social media and the Africa Day website. This work represented a very minor element of the project and was conducted in close cooperation with my Department’s communications office.
Africa Day Family Days, incorporating musical entertainment, cultural activities and an African Bazaar, were hosted by the Department in Iveagh Gardens in 2009 and 2010, in CHQ in Georges Dock in 2012 and at the Farmleigh Estate in 2013. In 2011, the Department supported a series of smaller-scale performances, family events, art exhibitions, debates and educational activities instead of hosting a flagship event.
DHR also provided short-term management support services for the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid, including the logistical management of the nationwide public consultation activities.
The table sets out the use of DHR engaged by my Development Cooperation Division since March 2011.
Project and Event Management March 2011 to date 14 January 2014
|
Name of Project/Event |
Year |
|
Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF) grants scheme |
2011, 2012, 2013 |
|
The Irish Aid White Paper Review |
2011, 2012 |
|
Africa Day |
2011, 2012, 2013 |
