Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2018
247. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [6531/18]
View answerI have attended one meeting between my Department and the Strategic Communications Unit of the Department of the Taoiseach, along with the Secretary General of my Department, the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Human Resources and Corporate Affairs and my Special Advisor. The meeting took place in Agriculture House on Thursday 5 October 2017.
Following that initial meeting, an Assistant Secretary Delivery Group was established, under the governance of the Civil Service Management Board. The Assistant Secretary with responsibility for HR and Corporate Affairs has been nominated to attend on behalf of my Department, to ensure cross-Government co-operation in relation to communications. Two meetings of that group have taken place to date, with a further meeting scheduled for this week. The focus of this group is to ensure consistent and coordinated information between Government and citizens. Two bilateral meetings have also taken place between officials of my Department and the SCU. In addition, staff have engaged with the SCU on the development of a unified Government website and on the roll-out of a consistent whole-of-Government identity.
My Department, along with the Government, wants to make it easier for members of the public to understand the services that Government provides. Officials from my Department and I will engage with the Strategic Communications Unit to ensure that factual information on Government services is delivered to members of the public in a non-partisan way.
