Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It shows the Government's priorities that the Tánaiste used the word "virtue" when referring to the Government’s communications. We have yet to see the actual business case made, the facts and figures to show how the strategic communications unit will save money. So far, it has not and there is no indication that it ever will. Is it a virtue that instead of dealing with one of the biggest crises facing An Garda Síochána and the verifiability of its statistics for drink-driving and crime, that the Taoiseach wanted a communications campaign surrounding the role of the Garda? In that context atmosphere, a senior official in the Department of Justice and Equality felt free to suggest the communications campaign could align with Garda operations and be used to impinge on the independent authorities investigating the Garda. Is it a virtue that when record homelessness and housing waiting lists are published, no Minister is seen to take questions or deal with the actual issues on the ground? Is it a virtue that when we seek to table questions about the strategic communications unit, we must go to the Information Commissioner to have them answered? These are not communications. It is what it has been exposed as, namely, a political partisan project. It is a tribute to members of the mainstream media, Ms Ellen Coyne, Mr. Hugh O'Connell and Mr. Juno McEnroe, as well as regional journalists who fed through the information, despite the fear and threat about revenues and future advertising. At a time when mainstream media are under such pressure, the campaign is a tribute to those and other members who have fought the fight.

The reason we are here is to get information. To date, the Government has refused to give answers to the House. If it has confidence in its case, the Taoiseach, Mr. Fraser and Mr. Concannon should go before the Committee of Public Accounts to take the questions from any member. The reason we are debating this issue is the Government is running away from it in the hope it will go away. It may hope, but we will not let it go away.

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