Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 March 2018
244. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of meetings her Department officials and advisers have had with the IDA regarding an IDA sponsored opinion piece (details supplied); the number of such opinion pieces by her and her predecessors in regional and national newspapers in each of the years 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018 that a State agency under her remit sponsored; and the costs to date. [14907/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland’s “Local Impact” initiative forms part of the Agency’s normal marketing activity and is aimed at promoting regional foreign investment by showcasing the availability of property, talent and regional capabilities across the country.
Since November 2017, IDA Ireland and the Irish Times have worked together on the initiative to create content with clients and stakeholders in regional locations. These stakeholders come from regions across Ireland and include the Mid-West, Border and Midlands areas.
Individual locations that have been highlighted through IDA Ireland’s work on this campaign include FDI activity in Drogheda, Co.Louth; Raheen, Co.Limerick; Shannon, Co.Clare; Letterkenny, Co.Donegal, Nenagh, Co.Tipperary; Westport, Co.Mayo.
The overall commercial international marketing package negotiated with the Irish Times included:
- A physical supplement in the Irish Times;
- Creation of all content, images and graphics;
- All of the research and interviews conducted with companies throughout Ireland;
- 90,000 distributed hard copies of the supplement;
- A dedicated microsite live for two months aimed at domestic and international audiences;
- All promotion including three print ads and digital promotion that is ongoing.
Two more premium articles and a video will also follow, which were created and produced by the Irish Times. This package was achieved for €70,000 - the advertising rate card value was significantly higher.
IDA Ireland has had no specific meetings with my Department regarding the sponsored opinion piece which featured in the Irish Times supplement. IDA Ireland requested that I would be interviewed for this supplement as the relevant office holder in order to give a Ministerial perspective on regional jobs growth in Ireland.
No other State Agency under my Department’s remit has sponsored opinion pieces in the period referenced.
