Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent work of the committee in his Department which oversees the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35236/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach the work of the committee in his Department charged with overseeing the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37271/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach if the committee in his Department charged with overseeing the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers is still in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44304/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together.

The question relates to the findings of the Quigley report, published in 2005. It highlighted the need for special care in cases where a proposed consultancy comprises an element of direct service to a Minister or Minister of State, particularly in the public relations or communications area, and where a Minister or a Minister of State suggests the name of a person or enterprise as being suitable.

Following publication of the Quigley report, additional guidelines to be followed in such cases were approved by the Government and are published on my Department's website. The guidelines were brought to the attention of all Secretaries General, who were asked to implement them and to bring them in future to the attention of all newly-appointed Ministers, Ministers of State where relevant, in their Department or office.

The guidelines give the Secretary General to the Government and the Government secretariat a role in examining certain procurements. However, there is no special committee in my Department to oversee the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers. Any workload arising from the application of these additional guidelines is handled within existing resources in the Government secretariat.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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In July 2008, the Minister for Finance said all expenditure by Department and State agencies on consultancies, advertising and public relations contracts would be cut by at least 50%. I note radio advertisements costing over €23,000 were recently put out by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government announcing the special protection of seven areas in County Dublin. This was one of several campaigns run by his Department which has spent over €3 million on advertising in 2009 alone.

Were these contracts, and others like them, approved by the public relations contracts committee? Is there ever an evaluation of media advertising campaigns as to their impact, how many people were reached, whether they made sense to people or had consequential benefits? Has the public relations committee any capacity to evaluate the effect and the value for money of advertising campaigns carried out by Ministers, Ministers of State and Departments?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No, those assessments are carried out by the line Departments. There are many public information notices and campaigns which are necessary to bring to the attention of citizens. They cover issues such as statutory requirements and matters of public importance in particular areas.

In July 2008 the Minister for Finance announced a 50% reduction in departmental consultancy expenditure. It should also be noted that in February 2009 he announced a further reduction across Departments of €25 million in expenditure on advertising, public relations and consultancies.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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If the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, wants to launch a campaign about, say, new sports facilities and wishes to award a contract to a public relations agency for it, what process must he go through? Does he have to contact the Taoiseach's Department? Does he just consult with his Secretary General and award a contract on the basis of tenders received by his Department?

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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A parliamentary question to the relevant Minister might be more helpful.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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A Cheann Comhairle, let us wait and see.

Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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It might do the Taoiseach to look into his own conscience.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is about the awarding of public relations contracts, a Cheann Comhairle and I am asking the Taoiseach about the statement by the Minister for Finance with regard to how these contracts would be reduced by 50%. Has the Taoiseach put his oar into other Departments? Must they obtain authorisation and permission from the Taoiseach's Department before awarding or renewing public relations contracts? In other words, what is the current procedure in this regard?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to the Quigley report and the recommendations and conclusions therein which set out the advice and procedures to be adopted in various circumstances. The purpose of this report was to bring clarity to the issue and to ensure that Ministers and officeholders are aware of arrangements for the future. I refer the Deputy to the conclusions of that report.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Does the Taoiseach have the overall figure for expenditure in 2009 by members of the Government on public relations contracts? If the work of the committee is to oversee the awarding of public relations contracts, does the Taoiseach have an overall figure for what will be spent be end 2009 by line Departments and the Government in general on public relations contracts?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The guidelines given to the Secretary General of Government and Government secretariat relate to the examination of certain procurements. As such, there is no committee overseeing the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers. The matter is dealt with by the secretariat. I do not have available the figures requested by the Deputy.

In July 2008, the Minister for Finance sought a reduction of 50% in consultancy expenditure and, in February 2009, brought in an additional requirement for a further €25 million reduction in expenditure and advertising in respect of public relations and consultancy contracts.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My understanding of the guidelines published in 2005 following the Quigley report is that the appointment of a particular person, consultant or public relations firm by a Minister would be referred to the Government secretariat for consideration and that if it had some issues it wished to raise in that regard, the Secretary General would make a recommendation to the Taoiseach as to whether any special procurement procedures should be observed in the procurement process.

On how many occasions has the appointment of a particular person or public relations firm been considered by the Government secretariat in line with the guidelines published in 2005? Also, on how many occasions has a recommendation been made to the Taoiseach in regard to whether any special procurement arrangements should be applied?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I do not recall any instances having been brought to my attention. The guidelines are being observed.