Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Civil Service is not closing down during the election and the communications unit is part of the Civil Service structure. Before the communications unit, a range of news agencies made a small killing from Departments by collecting information from media sources and selling it on. It was a good service but it is now done by a unit within the Civil Service. The information provided by news programmes is made available throughout the Civil Service and it is good that the various information units within the Civil Service know what is being said and done. Deputies are welcome to go and have a look at the communications unit. I do not think they will find it of huge political benefit, but it provides a good service to Departments and agencies, though one would not use it as one's press office.

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