Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the costs which have accrued to his Department since June 2002 in respect of newspaper advertisements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9149/06]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following schedule outlines the value of newspaper advertisements undertaken by my Department since June 2002.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Not only did the national development plan advertisement campaign feature two full-page advertisements in all newspapers, but the population at large was exposed to the visages of a number of Ministers, particularly the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin. While I realise it is difficult to separate on a consistent basis Government from actions of Government and developments that take place around the country, and there are occasions where they become inseparable, in cases where the Government was sending out the message about——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This question refers specifically to the Taoiseach's Department.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It does, but it is party to the advertisement. Sometimes these issues are inseparable. Two full page advertisements in all newspapers were used to put out the message. How much did that cost? Was the cross-departmental team on public private partnerships, which includes the Taoiseach's Department, involved in drawing up the advertisements? Is there a genuine value in using the faces of Ministers on——

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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This question refers specifically to the Taoiseach's Department.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I could reverse the question, if the Ceann Comhairle wishes to be technical. Is there any value in the advertisements in the absence of the Taoiseach's face? The Taoiseach will be aware, on the basis of cases raised previously, especially those involving Ministers of State, that there is clearly potential for abuse in this area.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is going way outside the scope of the question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That may not be the Taoiseach's intention. I raise this issue because if the public is to be informed about developments under the national development plan, including those led by the Taoiseach's Department, it is not necessary to insert Ministers' faces in the advertisements for which the public pays. Perhaps he will respond to that.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The national development plan advertisements are not placed by my Department. I issued a circular on the appropriateness and inappropriateness of advertisements during the last session, which should be adhered to. Nobody bothered to put my face on the list of advertisements placed by my Department and I was not upset about that.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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They do not need to put the Taoiseach's face on them, as he is known well enough at this stage.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not too sure that makes much difference to the advertisements.

Criteria, which are fair, are laid down for public information advertisements. The advertisements are placed for public information and not propaganda purposes. If those who design the advertisements feel they should include a Department's title or logo or a photograph, that is all right but they should not be used for anything else. The main criterion is they should be seen as public information rather than a means of promoting of somebody, which is fair. I may be corrected but, having looked through the list of advertisements placed by my Department, I very much doubt that my name even appears on them. Unless it is necessary, that should not happen. Each Department deals with the advertisements and not the cross-departmental team.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Taoiseach that the advertisements should be about public information. However, from the Opposition's point of view, the advertisements could be restructured so that Ministers would state the items they have not yet delivered under the national development plan, which are seven years behind schedule, and which they propose to undertake over the next 18 months.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is going way outside the scope of the question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have gone off the runway.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I accept what the Taoiseach says about the absence of any necessity to portray himself in these advertisements. I am only grateful he does not commission a stamp commemorating himself while he is still in office, as there is no need for it.

The Taoiseach wrote to me recently about this issue. With regard to the criteria he set out, are procedures in place to monitor compliance? An issue can arise because of a particular event or Minister or Minister of State. On an ongoing basis, are there procedures to monitor compliance?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I brought this issue to the attention of every Minister, Minister of State and Department. A notification was also circulated by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Ministers should follow the commission's request and that, on its own, should determine that people stay within the guidelines.