Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 2 Nov 1999

Vol. 509 No. 6

Written Answers. - Industrial Disputes.

Alan Shatter

Ceist:

326 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements he entered into to obtain public relations advice in relation to his Department's approach to the nurses' strike; if a specific contract was entered into with a public relations firm to undertake work on his Department's behalf or on behalf of the Government relating to the strike; if so, the name of the firm; the fees payable to it; the cost of the Government's and the Health Service Employers' Agency's advertising campaign on issues relating to the nurses' strike; and the budget allocated to the public relations work concerned with the strike. [21080/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

No public relations firm has been engaged by the Department specifically for the nurses' dispute. However, Drury Communications Limited has been employed by the Department on a contract basis to provide assistance and advice on the full range of issues which the Department deals with on an ongoing basis. The Department has been in contact with Drury Communications Limited in relation to the nurses' dispute. The rate of fees payable to Drury Communications Limited is £5,000 per month, excluding VAT and expenses.

The total cost of the three advertisements placed by the Department concerning issues relating to the nurses' strike was £79,768.04. One of these was a joint advertisement with the Health Service Employers' Agency, and another was placed on behalf of the Government.