Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2015
497. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all external public relations firms hired by his Department and associated costs incurred from 2007 to 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4544/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA table containing the information is set out as follows. It is important to note that the expenditure in question was for the management of specific projects and events under Ireland’s overseas development programme. It was not for general public relations services. In 2007, following a competitive tendering process, a contract valued at just over €5,000 was awarded to a firm to support the work of the Government’s Hunger Task Force. The Task Force comprised 14 Irish and international experts who examined the particular contribution that Ireland could make to tackling the root causes of hunger. The Hunger Task Force Report was published in 2008 and continues to guide Ireland’s approach to this priority global issue. The firm concerned assisted the Hunger Task Force in engaging with the public and media on Ireland’s role in tackling hunger in the developing world.
Between 2008 and 2010, following a competitive tendering process, the Department engaged a firm with a public relations background to provide professional services including project management, logistics and event management for the national Africa Day celebrations, which were hosted by the Department in Dublin Castle in 2008 and in Iveagh Gardens in 2009 and 2010. In partnership with a number of local authorities, the firm also administered a small grants scheme for community and other groups to participate in regional Africa Day events. A small public awareness-raising dimension was involved in this work on Africa Day events and was conducted in close cooperation with the Department’s press office.
Following a competitive tender process, the same firm was engaged in 2010 to manage and administer the Department’s Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF), which provides small grants to journalists to facilitate coverage of the developing world and raise awareness of development issues in Ireland.
The contract involved the management of three funding rounds each year, entailing:
Processing grant payments and keeping detailed administrative and financial records;
Convening national and regional information workshops;
Managing and administering the application process;
Organising the process of judging of applications by an independent panel;
Providing detailed feedback to all applicants;
Maintaining and updating the SCMF website
Expenditure, 2007 - 2010
|
Receipt and Project/Event |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Bannon & Bannon – Support to the Hunger Task Force |
€5,082 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
DHR Communications – Simon Cumbers Media Fund |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€31,363 |
|
DHR Communications – Africa Day |
Nil |
€34,485 |
€63,058 |
€56,023 |
|
Total |
€5,082 |
€34,485 |
€63,058 |
€87,386 |
