Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I like the hypothesis that the communications unit is apolitical. I appreciate the staff are doing the job they are being asked to do so to that extent they are not driven by the same political motivations as a Deputy or party worker but the work carried out by the unit, however, is ostensibly for the Government and, therefore, supports Fianna Fáil and Progressive Democrat policy positions. Does the communications unit deal with either party's headquarters in the course of the Government work the Taoiseach outlined? Is it not reasonable, given the apolitical nature of the unit, that it would deal with all national public representatives in terms of feedback from the communications it monitors?

I am interested in finding out the definition of apolitical. Is it the same as the way non-electoral activity happens before the three week run-up to the election and has nothing to do with it? It is difficult to gauge where apolitical ends and political starts. Does the Taoiseach agree there is a political dimension to this work and, therefore, all parties should benefit from it?

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