Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I indicated to the Deputy, that is not its role and there is no committee in existence which deals with that issue. This relates to the Quigley report which arose from the need to provide some extra guidelines for Ministers and their Ministers of State in respect of the public relations or communications area where a Minister or Minister of State might suggest the name of a person or enterprise as being suitable. This was the specific issue dealt with by that committee. Where a Department proposes to engage consultants, the fact would only be brought to my attention where there is an element of direct service to a Minister, especially in a public relations or communications area, and where the Minister has suggested the name of a person or enterprise as being suitable. If these criteria are not applicable, then there is no need for my approval or for referral to the Government secretariat.

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