Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach announced the establishment of the strategic communications unit during questions to him in July 2017. He did so in response to a question put by the leader of the Labour Party. He informed the House that it would be a small unit in his Department. I indicated in response that a strategic communications unit could be a good idea, provided we knew the strategy that was involved and had more information on the unit, instead of having it dropped in, as it was, in one or two sentences. I also stated I could imagine the unit becoming a Tony Blair-type machine but that it could also look at the main strategic objectives of a Government. They could, I argued, include the delivery of the Good Friday Agreement, Brexit, a united Ireland and how one would secure and win a referendum on Irish unity. Ach ní mar a shíltear a bhítear, a Thánaiste.

My concern that the strategic communications unit would become a spin machine for the Fine Gael Party has been borne out by the debacle surrounding the launch of Project Ireland 2040. It was a shameless public relations strategy of self-promotion by Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance. The deliberate promotion of Fine Gael and Independent Alliance members has grown even beyond that. Keeping citizens informed on the work of government and where their taxes are being spent is one thing but promoting the Taoiseach, his party and others in government is another. It is also an unacceptable and blatant abuse of political power, but this is not the first Government to use Government resources and personnel to promote party political interests. The Fianna Fáil Party is a master in this area. In this instance, however, the line between the Government, the role of the Civil Service and elected representatives has been blurred so significantly that it would make even Fianna Fáil blush. Nonetheless, the Fianna Fáil Party's support for the motion is welcome agus cuirim fáilte roimh sin.

The strategic communications unit was established at significant financial cost. Contrary to the claims made that it would be cost neutral, this Fine Gael promotional, public relations and spin machine is costing the taxpayer €6 million. The motion is about accountability and transparency in government. I urge all Teachtaí to support our call for the unit to be disbanded, those involved with it to appear before the Committee of Public Accounts and an independent panel to be established to examine and recommend the best way of communicating the work of a Government in a manner that is above politics and based on value for money.

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