Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

On the general question of an advertising or information publicity campaign in a Department, clear guidelines are set down by the Department of Finance on what one can do in that regard. Those guidelines have been enhanced and tightened up on a number of occasions in the past six or seven years. A Minister or a Minister of State in any Department cannot simply decide to produce a publicity leaflet without being satisfied that it comes within the procurement arrangements and the guidelines. A number of issues arose in the past six or seven years since the Public Office Commission was set up and they were addressed in the guidelines.

Regarding these questions, if a Minister decided to take on staff by fast-tracking the post and not going through the normal procurement arrangements or if it was somebody in the public relations area, it was considered that there should be a new procurement arrangement where there was any doubt involved. The Quigley report specified that in any such case it should be first certified and cleared with the Secretary General of the Department and, if there was any doubt, with the Secretary General of the Government. That has since happened. I understand there have been four or five such cases to date. If there is any doubt, the matter must go not only to the Department but to the Government secretariat which would arbitrate on the decision. It does not come to the Government or to me. Under existing guidelines, the Government contracts committee and the Government handbook, the Government secretariat would make a call on whether it was permissible.

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