Consultancy Contracts.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 February 2005

Thursday, 17 February 2005

Ceisteanna (84)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

84 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number, cost and status of all public relation consultancies, contracts or procurements entered into by or on behalf of his Department or its agents or agencies in the past three years; the terms of reference in each such appointment; the person to whom such persons report and from whom they receive instructions; if any such person or group had any previous contracts, commitments or employment with either of the Government parties. [5505/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue)

Since the establishment of my Department in June 2002 the following contracts have been awarded for public relations projects. The following table sets out the details requested in respect of the public relations contracts:

PR Consultant	Service Provided	Year	Value of Contract	Reporting To
			€
Kate Bowe PR Ltd.	Irish Festival in China Provision of Public Relations Management Services	2003/4	72,834 (paid to date)	Festival Commissioner
Siobhán Colgan	EU Presidency Cultural Programme Public Relations Management Services Contract term 7 months	2003/4	32,777.53	Commissioner of the Cultural Programme
Murray Consultants	PR Consultants for the Department	2003/2004	101,668 (paid to date)	Corporate Services Division
Murray Consultants	PR Consultants for the Department (New Contract with effect from 7 December 2004).	2004/2005	4,500 per month retainer	Corporate Services Division
Kate Bowe PR Ltd.	Public relations costs for “ReJoyce” Festival	2004	4,800	National Co-ordinator
Fleishman — Hilliard Saunders	Public relations costs for “ReJoyce” Festival	2004	128,581	National Co-ordinator
Brenda O’Hanlon	PR work for the Afterdark Programme	2003	4,276	Head of Marketing, National Museum
Drury Communications	PR Consultant to the National Library	2002/2005	24,424	Director of the National Library
Drury Communications	Promotion of Joyce Exhibition in National Library	2004	21,853	Keeper of Special Projects, National Library
Mahon O’Neill	PR Consultants for the National Archives for launch of “Counties in Time” CD and launch of the on-line exhibition “Views of the Four Presidencies”	2002/2004	14,124	Senior Archivist, National Archives

As previous contracts, commitments or employment with Government parties is not a consideration in the awarding of contracts by my Department, the information sought by the Deputy in this regard is not available. The employment of PR consultants by the agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the agencies themselves and I have no information in this regard.