Vol. 260 No. 1
asked the Taoiseach if he is satisfied with assignments undertaken by Markpress on behalf of the Government: if he will indicate the cost to date for services rendered by Markpress; when the contract expires; and if it is the intention of Government to renew it.
17.
asked the Taoiseach whether the Government or his Department have entered into a new or extended contract with Markpress; and, if so, on what terms.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.
The initial agreement with Markpress expires next month and the conclusion of a new agreement to commence next month is being considered.
To date, I am satisfied with the services given by Markpress which, up to the 31st March, 1972, cost an estimated £20,000.
Will there be any extension in the coverage of the general purpose contract with Markpress? Does the new contract prevent this?
That would be a matter for the new agreement but I would not envisage any extension.
Would the Taoiseach look again at this contract and see if there is scope to provide this from native sources—in other words, that Irish journalists could do the same work?
As I have indicated, the immediate purpose was to establish our bona fides in Europe as a progressive economy and I thought Markpress had access to outlets in Europe which Irish agencies might not have. It is unlikely that if a new contract is made it would be with an agency other than Markpress, but in the future it might be possible to see if an Irish agency would have the expertise required.
Why should we farm out this type of work to outside agencies? Surely the Irish agencies would be able to assemble the facts here much better than Markpress. Would it not be reasonable to assume that Irish agencies would have the same or similar access to outlets? Can we not do anything ourselves? We have to farm this out in the same way as we had to get McKinsey——
This does not arise.
It seems to be Government policy to farm to outside agencies work which in my opinion could be done better at home.
If I thought that certainly I would employ Irish agencies. All things being equal Irish agencies would be employed.
It is a reflection on our own people.
It is only fair to assume that an agency like this, which is established in one of the biggest cities in Europe, and has access to outlets such as I mentioned all over Europe, is certainly in a better position to get the kind of message across that we want to get across. If, for example, I was a resident of Switzerland and wanted to get something across to Ireland I would probably employ an Irish agency.
Have we not Irish embassies all over Europe?
We have.
Why not utilise their services?
They are being utilised but they are not specialists in this matter.
18.
asked the Taoiseach whether or not the terms of the agreement between the Government and Markpress preclude that company from making critical comment on the Opposition parties and members of the Dáil; and, if not, why.
There is no such provision.
I think it would be unfair to attempt to preclude Markpress from replying to criticism of themselves.
19.
asked the Taoiseach whether he will place in the Dáil Library a complete file of the Press releases issued by Markpress since the retention of that firm's services to newspapers and media abroad; and whether, if he accedes to this request, he will at the same time indicate the countries in which the various categories of release issued and produce for inspection by Members of the House whatever evidence of publication has been produced by Markpress or reported by the Department's offices abroad.
Should the Deputy wish to obtain the text of any particular Press release, Markpress will facilitate him. I would not be prepared to ask the agency to meet the requests in the first and last parts of the Deputy's question.
The Markpress public relations service has been operating mainly in Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium and the United States of America; and, as occasion arises, in other countries.
