Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Is there a public relations contracts committee in existence or is this a free-for-all? I understood there was a committee which dealt with contracts to be awarded to public relations companies by Ministers or their Departments. I made the point previously that the House has been vacated by Government for major announcements; they have taken place everywhere but here. There is a Government information service which could deal with all of these matters. Naturally, each Department wishes to play its part in putting its piece of the jigsaw in place. In view of the seriously constrained circumstances we are in now, is it proposed to review this and have a central Government information service carry out all of these things or will we continue with public relations committees and consultants for each Department? The situation to which I referred involving the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and special protection areas is important. Let us bear in mind that we have taken these to the ultimate limit in this country.

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