Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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No. 1044 is correspondence from an individual copying the committee in relation to Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, and the High Court order. There are a number of other items from the individual with the clerk. This is before the courts and it is not a matter for this committee. I propose that we note the item and I seek agreement of the committee not to circulate the item. We were only sent a copy. We are on a list of people getting copies of the documentation. It is not a matter for us. It is before the court. We can agree not to circulate that documentation. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The next item is No. 1045, correspondence dated 23 January from Mr. Marty Whelan of the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, suggesting a correction to our periodic report which was published on Tuesday. We can deal with this. It is coming up on screen. Members will see the paragraph HIQA wishes to change. The correspondence states that from an initial quick read of our report, it was noticed that there was an error of fact on page 25 of the report in paragraph D19, where the report states "and also contracted a private public relations firm." HIQA states this is incorrect and that it has not engaged a private public relations firm. It would appreciate if this could be corrected a soon as possible.

Our report refers to a private public relations firm. We will go back to the transcript of the committee meeting with HIQA. I will read the transcript now. It is in front of members. Deputy Marc MacSharry stated that a total of €12,560 was spent on media monitoring and asked if that was done by a public relations firm or if it was internal. Mr. Phelim Quinn from HIQA stated:

[It] is a procured service that feeds information to us. Even in terms of business intelligence for the organisation, we find that information contained within the media can direct us in some instances to areas where there may be risks within the...

Deputy MacSharry asked if it was a private sector public relations firm which gives HIQA a booklet, or whatever it is, every week. Mr. Quinn stated that it was a daily feed. Deputy MacSharry asked if it was a clippings type of service that was external. Mr. Quinn replied, "Yes". Deputy MacSharry then asked what public relations company it was. The HIQA spokesperson said it was a company called Kantar.

We put on the record that it was a public relations company. HIQA gave us the name of the company. Our report is based on the wording as given in public evidence. It is a minor point as to whether it is a media monitoring company or a public relations company.