Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the number of staff employed in the Government Information Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8424/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach the staffing levels in the Government Information Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9620/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach cén méid duine atá fostaithe ag Seirbhís Eolais an Rialtais. [9854/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

The number of staff employed in the Government Information Service, the Government Press Office and the communications unit is 15, ten of whom are civil servants. They are as follows: the Government press secretary, two deputy Government press secretaries, three Government press officers, a departmental information officer and eight clerical staff.

The Government Press Office and the Government Information Service provide an information service on Government policy to the public through the national and international media on behalf of myself, my Department and the Government. It also promotes a co-ordinated approach to media matters across all Departments.

The Government Press Office issues press releases and speeches to the media, briefs political correspondents, organises photocalls, information campaigns and ministerial representation on current affairs programmes. It disseminates information to the domestic and international media on the web and via e-mail. The Government Press Office and the Government Information Service, in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs, organises and manages the media aspects of State visits and major State occasions. Staff in the Government Press Office and departmental press officers are available after hours and at weekends to answer media queries.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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While I did not catch it all, last November the Taoiseach stated he was to explore the appointment of a single provider of information across all Departments as a cost-cutting measure and as a cost-saving device. In recent week, every Minister has been talking about this proposal. Has the Taoiseach decided on a single information provider across all Departments that will go towards reducing the costs of the service being provided? What cost will be saved and when will it be implemented?

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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There has been a walkout of Ministers.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No decision has been made in respect of any reviews that are taking place at present. I recall a previous parliamentary question in which information to some effect was given to the Deputy. I must check it as I do not have to hand that supplementary information.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I hope this is one small measure that can be included in next Tuesday's budget and that a decision can be made by whoever is in a position to do this.

In respect of the Government Information Service and leaving aside the issue regarding the matter raised publically last week that received much attention, it appears as though the Government press secretary did contact the national television broadcaster regarding an apology to the Taoiseach in respect of a matter that took place in the National Gallery. Was this the case? Did the Government press officer contact the national broadcaster, RTE?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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In all honesty Deputy Kenny——

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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What does the Ceann Comhairle mean?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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——this question is about the number of staff employed and staffing levels in the Government Information Service.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I refer to one of the staff.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We will not go into that. The Deputy will ask what they had for their breakfast next.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Hang on.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Kenny should ask a question that is relevant.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have no intention of asking what they had for their breakfast.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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It was about the work they do.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Kenny to please ask a question that is relevant.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have no intention of asking about their breakfast or any other meal.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy should ask a question that is relevant. We must stay within the ambit of the question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am asking the Taoiseach in respect of——

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Ceann Comhairle should give the Deputy a chance.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach read out what the Government Information Service does——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Look——

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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—— such as arranging for photocalls and so on in respect of Government coverage, which is right and proper. I am asking a legitimate question about an officer who is appointed as part of the Government Information Service and I wish to know whether the Government press secretary contacted the national broadcaster to state that what it had done to the Taoiseach was wrong and that it should apologise.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is up to the Taoiseach himself but this is not in order.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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All the Deputy seeks are the bare facts.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Then I strongly suggest that he tables the bare question.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach is waiting to reply.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Well done Deputy McCormack. That was one of his better efforts.

As for the press secretary, he was not acting on my instruction or that of any Minister and nor did he seek an apology, as RTE itself decided to do that.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Did he make contact?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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While I will come back to Deputy Kenny, he has had his supplementary questions. Deputy Burton is next.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach is confirming that the Government press secretary——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I will return to Deputy Kenny. Deputy Burton is next.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Taoiseach is confirming that he did contact the national broadcaster.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Burton is next. I will come back to Deputy Kenny.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Can the Taoiseach confirm that he did make contact with the national broadcaster?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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We are halfway there, a Cheann Comhairle.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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That is well known. Just as with Deputy Kenny's own press officers, there is a fair bit of contact between them.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Burton is next——

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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That is all justified.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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——and the Deputies can have a chat about it afterwards.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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When Deputy Kenny's man does it, it is justified but when my man does it, it is not justified.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputies should not mind that stuff.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Is there still a Government information service? Traditionally, there was a Government press secretariat made up of political appointees, the five people to whom the Taoiseach referred, dealing with political issues while a separate Government information service, staffed by civil servants, dealt with the dissemination of routine, non-political information. The Government press secretary of the day was head of the Government information service but there was a clear distinction between the roles of political appointees and the civil servants working in the Government information service. The website of the Department of the Taoiseach no longer makes reference to the Government information service. There is only reference to a Government press office. When did the change happen? Did the Taoiseach make a public announcement of the change? Was a decision taken to abolish the separate Government information service and absorb it into the Government press office? Does the Taoiseach accept there is a great importance in keeping clear and distinct functions between the Government information service, civil servants, and the political appointees who deal with the press on a daily basis? Given the way the two sections have morphed together, does the Taoiseach expect civil servants to deal with political inquiries from the media, which are more pertinent to a political appointee?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Government information service continues. A central Government information service is essential for information issuing from the Government. When the Government wishes to release information this can only be done by a central information service such as the Government information service. The Government information service has grown from early days when there were only three major national broadsheets and one national broadcaster. Today there is 24-hour coverage and instantaneous access to information from newswires and websites. Today's information from Government can be released via paper press releases, e-mails, text messages, podcasts and webcasts, to name a few of the new technologies used.

The staff of the Government information service are subject to the usual conventions that apply to civil servants in respect of political impartiality in their work at all times. Their duties and those of the Government press secretary are to liaise with the media on behalf of the Government. The Government press office provides a comprehensive information service on Government policy to the public through the national and international media on behalf of the Government. Political correspondents are briefed on a daily basis. Through regular contact with departmental press officers they ensure a co-ordinated approach to media matters.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In what capacity did the Government press secretary contact the national broadcaster? Was it in his capacity as head of the Government information service——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Burton is back to the same old thing. That is not relevant to these questions.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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——or as the Government press secretary?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I cannot understand the fixation with that matter.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Is it normal procedure that when the Government has an issue with RTE coverage, it goes straight to the director-general of RTE?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The question deals with staffing levels and the number of staff, an méid daoine atá fostaithe ag Seirbhís Eolais an Rialtais.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Does the Government press secretary go straight to the director-general of RTE? Is it appropriate that the Government press secretary contact the director-general in this way?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is not within the ambit of these questions.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I sympathise, as I did before, particularly with the family of the Taoiseach, in that the particular matter was offensive but this is a general principle.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I told Deputy Kenny already that this is not within the ambit of the question.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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When the Government press secretary sees coverage on RTE, of which he may disapprove, does he pick up the phone, as was done last week, to the director-general of RTE?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The question deals with staffing levels.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Is this appropriate? How many times has the Government press secretary made contact with the director-general of RTE?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a completely different issue.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In this case——

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Deputy Burton to comply with the Chair's ruling.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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——was the press secretary acting alone?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask you to comply with the Chair's ruling. I told you that question was not relevant.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Was he acting alone?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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I call Deputy Ó Caoláin. The question is not relevant.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Maidir le seirbhís eolais an Rialtas, an bhfuil straitéis ann chun ráitis agus doiciméid a chur an fáil i nGaeilge? Má tá, cé mhéad daoine atá fostaithe chun é sin a chur i bhfeidhm?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Is í an Ghaeilge teanga dhúchais an príomhoifigeach san oifig sin. Tá sé ar fáil chun eolas a thabhairt trí Ghaeilge do gach éinne sna meáin chumarsáide mar gheall ar an méid atá ag tarlú sa Rialtas.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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An bhfuil an Taoiseach ábalta freagra a thabhairt dom maidir leis an straitéis atá ag seirbhís eolais an Rialtas? An bhfuil straitéis ann? An bhfuil daoine ag obair go speisialta chun ráitis agus doiciméid a chur an fáil i nGaeilge? Is é sin mo cheist. Iarraim ar an Taoiseach freagra specific a thabhairt ar an straitéis sin.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Ní chóir go mbeadh straitéis ann. Nuair a chuireann daoine glaoch ar an oifig, tá oifigigh ann chun an eolas atá á lorg a chur ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá sé ar fáil i nGaeilge.