Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

From whichever perspective one examines the matter, there seems to be an assumption that the communications unit operates for the Government's advantage. The Taoiseach has stated it is a cost-saving exercise because Departments do not need to go to other companies to be supplied with newspaper clippings, but I read a report recently on how the unit was stretched to the limit when the media wrote about him a number of months ago.

To be fair to everyone, will the Government close down the system under which public servants are seconded from other offices from now or St. Patrick's Day until after the general election? This would remove the threat to the Government of comments to the effect that it has an organisation working flat out to collect vital information on what someone in County Wexford said about the Minister for Health and Children——

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