Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

If the communications unit of the Taoiseach, on behalf of the Government, is working effectively, why is it necessary that press units of Departments and Ministers of State must still involve themselves in gathering press clippings as part of their work? Surely, this information could be sent electronically to every Minister and Minister of State with them being told "That is the news for today. Your press office does not need to involve itself anymore in press cuttings". When the Taoiseach was Minister for Finance, a sum of €30,000 was spent on press cuttings. At this time, he is well aware many people are under serious pressure and it is difficult for them to understand public servants being required as part of their duties to involve themselves every day in putting together press clippings for Ministers who are all absent from the House to find what is being said about them. If the Government's communications unit is working effectively, it should not be necessary to gather press clippings in all Departments. The Minister for Education and Science recently said he had a file of clippings about third level fees. Where did that come from? Did that come from the communications unit or the press office?

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