Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

It was a public relations contract and I am asking the difference between the political end of that and the public relations end. The Minister with responsibility for children wrote to every family in the country at a cost of €250,000 of taxpayers' money and that contract was awarded to somebody. I ask the Taoiseach who overseas that and what is the differentiation between the politics and the public relations end of it. I understand the Taoiseach is on record as saying the early child care supplement will cost approximately €3 million. Currently, it is €150,000 and rising. Is there a section that examines the business of the public relations side as against the policy side of this area?

If a Minister or Minister of State decides to write to the nation, who would authorise that and in what context would it be decided? Last year, Ministers of State were peering out of feed bags for cattle. I am not sure whether that was public information or public dissemination. Who makes those decisions? Is there an intention to reform this area because there appears to be a massive cost involved in the public relations end of Ministers and Departments setting out their stall to the people?

See this speech in context