Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Does the communications unit do any work that might be partisan in nature, such as monitoring the activity or statements of Opposition parties? Does it communicate with people within particular party organisations about what an appropriate response would be? Does it have any such partisan role?

I did not quite grasp the reason in the Taoiseach's reply why this valuable resource of information relevant to Departments would not be made available to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Did I miss a component of the sums in that it costs approximately €400,000 but saves approximately €200,000? Is the Taoiseach stating the cost would be €600,000 if this unit did not exist?

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