Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Government Information Service has no role whatsoever in the procurement of PR consultants by Departments. It has its own role to fulfil. There are public information services available throughout Departments. Guidelines have been set out on consultancies and where there is a direct service to a Minister or a name is suggested by a Minister as being suitable, the proposal must be forwarded to the Government secretariat for approval. Expenditure in this area has been greatly reduced as part of the overall drive for efficiency and reductions in non-essential expenditure.

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