Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Government information service continues. A central Government information service is essential for information issuing from the Government. When the Government wishes to release information this can only be done by a central information service such as the Government information service. The Government information service has grown from early days when there were only three major national broadsheets and one national broadcaster. Today there is 24-hour coverage and instantaneous access to information from newswires and websites. Today's information from Government can be released via paper press releases, e-mails, text messages, podcasts and webcasts, to name a few of the new technologies used.

The staff of the Government information service are subject to the usual conventions that apply to civil servants in respect of political impartiality in their work at all times. Their duties and those of the Government press secretary are to liaise with the media on behalf of the Government. The Government press office provides a comprehensive information service on Government policy to the public through the national and international media on behalf of the Government. Political correspondents are briefed on a daily basis. Through regular contact with departmental press officers they ensure a co-ordinated approach to media matters.

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