Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
522. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent by his Department on public relations advice and media advice since January 2020 to date in 2021; and the companies engaged for this advice in tabular form. [22274/21]
View answerMy Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations or media advice. 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.
Africa Day, which falls on 25 May annually, is the official day of the African Union and marks African unity. The Department of Foreign Affairs has supported a programme of events to celebrate Africa Day since 2006, through financial support and the provision of information and coordination services. In 2020, the Department of Foreign Affairs entered into a contract with the public relations and public affairs agency, DHR Communications, for the provision of professional services for the coordination and communication of Africa Day supports and events for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022. This includes planning, managing and executing an information campaign for local authorities and community groups; publicising the range of Africa Day events taking place; updating and maintaining the Africa Day website and social media channels; and facilitating engagement with relevant stakeholders.
Since 2010, DHR Communications has administered the Simon Cumbers Media Fund on behalf of the Department. The Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF) was established by Irish Aid in 2005 to improve the quantity and quality of media coverage of the developing world. Management of the Fund involves promoting two funding rounds each year, including through national and regional information workshops and targeting of key editorial staff, managing and administering the application process, organising the judging process and providing detailed feedback to all applicants, maintaining and updating the SCMF website and managing the SCMF student competition.
From 2020 to date in 2021, fees incurred in relation to the above mentioned projects are as follows:
|
|
Company |
Nature of work |
Cost |
Narrative, if required |
|
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DHR |
Simon Cumbers Media Fund |
€26,429.36 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DHR |
Africa Day |
€23,333.90 |
|
|
2021 |
|
|
|
|
|
DHR |
Africa Day |
€11,470.90 |
|
