Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach if the Communications Unit still operates in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6581/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the arrangements he has put in place to give himself and others reports concerning media coverage [6664/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach if he plans to maximise the use of www.merrionstreet.ie in view of comments (details supplied) [6847/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 6: To ask the Taoiseach his plans to review the work of the Communications Unit in his Department [7505/11]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach the role to be played by him in seeking to secure and retain inward investment as distinct from the role of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. [7690/11]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 7, inclusive, together.

I have no plans to review the work of the communications unit. There has been no change in the work of the unit and it continues to provide news updates and transcripts to the Government press office, Departments and my Department. Consequently the arrangements in place for me and my Department for updates on media coverage remain the same.

The Government press office staffing arrangements have not been finalised yet. The Government press office currently has extra responsibilities in dealing with the considerable international media presence for the forthcoming visits of the Queen and President Obama. The outgoing Government press secretary was asked to stay on for a period of transition. The Tánaiste has indicated that Ms Cathy Madden will be his appointee as a deputy Government press secretary. Ms Joanne Lonergan will also be contracted to the Government information services.

There have been no other staff changes to date, and the working arrangements of the Government press office have not changed. 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 my behalf, on behalf of my Department and the Government and they promote a co-ordinated approach to media matters across all Departments.

The website www.merrionstreet.ie was developed and launched by the previous Government. Its purpose is to provide citizens with a single on-line location where the activity of the Government can be viewed. As it did in the previous Administration, www.merrionstreet.ie reports this activity in an impartial and factual manner. The latest press releases from all Departments are available on the site, which over time will be a valuable archive of Government information. Its main purpose is to make the work of the Government more accessible to citizens by reporting Government news in a user friendly manner, using audio-visual tools and Internet capabilities, including YouTube, Flickr, Facebook and Twitter.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Do we need for such a service at all? We have a Government press office and each Department has its own press officers. Are all of the people in this communications unit civil servants?

The Taoiseach mentioned the Queen in his reply. Which queen did he have in mind?

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Your Queen.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Queen of England, as the Deputy is aware, is to visit the country. This is the first time in more than 100 years that a reigning monarch is to come to Ireland.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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She has been to Belfast many times.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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She paid the Deputy's salary.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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She is coming at the invitation of our President and this is a symbol of two countries growing up. I am glad it is happening and that is who I refer to.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The response to both the questions on the communications unit and on www.merrionstreet.ie are a remarkable illustration of the U-turn the Government has taken on many issues. Let us take the example of the communications unit. The Taoiseach's response is a classic example of the cynical approach he took when he was on the Opposition benches. He attacked that unit for nine years and accused it of being at the heart of a political operation, and now he is reversing his position. Does he not accept that comments he made in regard to the communications unit were ill-advised and ill-informed while he was the Leader of the Opposition?

In terms of www.merrionstreet.ie would the Taoiseach not now ask the Tánaiste to withdraw the remarks he made in regard to that website on its introduction when he said in the Dáil on 12 October that there was a distinction between information and propaganda, and that this was a propaganda site? The Taoiseach has described it as impartial and objective here this morning and I welcome that turnaround since he also criticised www.merrionstreet.ie It illustrates the cynicism of his approach when he was on the Opposition benches, which is bad for politics-----

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is Question Time.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is a very poor basis for a new type of politics.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I used to criticise this on the basis that all Departments had their own press operations, and the question arose as to whether this site was running contrary to what was happening in all the Departments. I have not had time to visit the personnel there yet. I have clicked onto the site at one stage and it is presenting factual information in respect of the Government. All the Government's statements are available on the site for all citizens both at home and abroad. From that viewpoint I accept that it is giving out factual information.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Taoiseach's confirmation that it was never and is not a propaganda site.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would not call it cynical.

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Can the Taoiseach elaborate on how many people work in the communications unit? Could he say exactly what they do in terms of keeping the Government informed as regards what is going on in the media? Is it the case that every Minister gets a file of coverage from the main newspapers every day in regard to his or her activities and that of the Government, and what exactly do they do?

With regard to the press arrangements to which the Taoiseach referred surrounding the visit of the Queen of England, how will the fact that we are spending a fortune in entertainment for a visit by the relic of a feudal monarchy, which is long past its "sell by" date, sit with the citizens of this State, which is supposed to be a republic?

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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That question would be appropriate as a supplementary. Would the Taoiseach like to reply to the main points?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Government Information Service, GIS, has three functions: to provide a press and information service for the Taoiseach as Head of Government and his Department; to deal with press and media issues for the Government as a whole, arising from that as a collective authority; and to co-ordinate the work of departmental media services in the interests of efficiency, such as the provision of Government representatives for media events, where appropriate.

Departmental press officers deal with queries relating to their specific areas of responsibility, but not issues involving interdepartmental responsibilities. The current GIS has grown from the early days when there were only two major national broadsheets and one national broadcaster to today's media involving 24 hour coverage and instant access to information from news wires and websites around the world. Today's information from the Government can be released via paper press releases, e-mails, text messages, podcasts and webcasts, to name some of the new technologies, not that I am familiar with the workings of all of them.

The scheduled visits of the Queen of England and the American President are by two very high profile international figures and there is a cost associated with security, media arrangements and so on. However, as somebody who comes from Daingean Uí Chúis, the Deputy will understand that this is an investment in terms of business and tourism potential, and should be seen as such. We welcome both visitors to our shores and hope that the Irish people will give them a very warm welcome. It is a sign of a country having grown up, on the one hand, while on the other it is a question of looking to the future with an American President who speaks to young people all over the world about hope, liberty and confidence and what it is to be part of a country such as this, facing the challenges we do as part of the international community.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I, too, have a question for the Taoiseach in terms of media co-ordination and roles within the Department. Is the Taoiseach in a position to outline details of the permanent structure to be put in place for the GIS? With regard the replies, which are quite comprehensive, it is very clear that "Sir Humphrey" has been hard at work in terms of ensuring members of the Government were all converted in terms of the importance of the communications unit, www.merrionstreet.ie and so on.

I concur with the Taoiseach on the Queen's visit. It is a very important event, which I believe illustrates the transformation in relationships between this country and Great Britain. We have received heads of state from all over the world. As a former Minister for Foreign Affairs I actively encouraged such a visit. I am delighted it is taking place and I believe it illustrates the journey we have collectively travelled on this island and between the two islands. It reflects that and hopefully will usher in a new era in terms of our further relations.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I commend Deputy Martin for his forthrightness in promoting this when he was Minister for Foreign Affairs, and I am very glad that towards the end of her presidency, President McAleese issued the invitation to Buckingham Palace, which was accepted by the Queen. I acknowledge the Deputy's interest in this during his time as Minister.

I do not as yet have the details regarding the permanent set-up in respect of the GIS. I do not envisage that there will be any great changes, but in the event, I shall let the Deputy know.

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I do not wish to correct to the Taoiseach's grasp of geography, but clearly sections of the establishment here do not have a strong grasp of geography. This may be the first visit of the Queen of England to this State, but she has come to the country, particularly that part the President comes from, many times.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This is the first visit of a reigning British monarch to the Twenty-six Counties of the Republic of Ireland in more than 100 years. As the Deputy is well aware, it is the conclusion of a long period, and is a demonstration of this country having grown up that the President of Ireland and the Queen of England can meet here. The symbolism of that is extraordinary and shows, in many ways, an end to a long separation. The Queen comes to our shores as a welcome visitor, to a country with a proud history and record, facing the challenges of the future with a great potential.