Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I would like to respond briefly to some of the arguments put forward by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minster for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, in defence of the SCU. We are told that the purpose of the unit is to streamline Government communications, to co-ordinate, to train and to promote best practice. How much of the time of the 14 members of this unit is dedicated to that? How much of the €5 million budget is dedicated to those specific tasks? The only bit of work reported in the public domain which relates to that part of the function, which the Taoiseach says is integral, is an audit of the unit which is very light in terms of actual recommendations on how to co-ordinate, streamline, train or share best practice. I do not believe for a second that is its primary function. I am not even sure that it will do that at all.

The Tánaiste told us earlier that the SCU also helps to attract private sector finance for Project Ireland 2040, as if somehow advertisements in The Corkman or in local cinemas will influence decision-makers in the private sector. That is probably the most spurious argument I have heard to date.

We were also told earlier that somehow the €1.5 million investment in Project Ireland 2040 is comparable to informing people about benefits for the self-employed or back to education supports. Those two campaigns were telling people about things they could access today. If one looks at the detail of Project Ireland 2040 it does nothing of the kind.

Probably the most spurious argument made by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, and again by the Taoiseach, is the idea that we do not want to talk about the real issues. We talk about the real issues every single day. We present alternative proposals to the Government, which it ignores. The only relentless negativity is the negative impact bad Government policies are having on people's lives. I have heard nothing from the Government to support this unit and it should be disbanded immediately.

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