Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2018
150. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he, his officials or advisers have had meetings with the strategic communication unit since it was set up; the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6522/18]
View answerI understand that as part of the Strategic Communication Unit’s work to better coordinate existing communications across Government, it is engaged in a series of meetings with senior officials from across government.
I, along with a small number of senior officials in my Department, met with the Unit’s Director on 5 October 2017. My special adviser also attended the meeting at which the Director outlined the Unit's intended work and my Department outlined some of its key communications priorities and work underway for example our ongoing campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence.
Subsequently, officials from my Department have attended a number of interdepartmental meetings with the Strategic Communications Unit. The focus of the Strategic Communications Unit is to better communicate major Government initiatives that impact on the lives of our citizens and to streamline communications across government. In this context, I am advised that discussions of meetings have focused on information campaigns by the Government of Ireland and the gov.ie website as a resource for citizens.
