Departmental Staff.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 December 2007

Tuesday, 11 December 2007

Ceisteanna (819, 820, 821, 822)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

859 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number, rank and pay of all civil servants in his Department and ministerial staff, personally appointed by him or otherwise, who are engaged in media monitoring; the nature of the work done; the persons who the information is circulated to or the people who have access to this information; the cost of this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33512/07]

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

861 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of press officers and press advisers in his Department; the rank and pay of each; the description of work done; the persons to whom the information is circulated or made accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33542/07]

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

862 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number, cost and name of any media consultants employed by his Department; the cost of such advice for each year since 1997 to date in 2007; the nature of the work done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33557/07]

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

863 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of press advisers employed by his Department; the cost of such advice for each year since 1997 to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33572/07]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 859, 861, 862 and 863 together.

There is one Press Officer in my Department. The Press Officer is an Assistant Principal Officer on a salary scale of €66,302 — €82,679. The Press Officer is responsible for all matters relating to press and media for my Department. There are no Press Advisers or Media Consultants and nor have there been for some time. In relation to the situation as it obtained pre-2002, my Department is checking its records and I will communicate directly with the Deputy when this process is completed. In relation to media monitoring, while no staff have specific responsibility for this activity, the Deputy will appreciate that monitoring of the media is part and parcel of the day-to-day activity of all Press Offices.