Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are two issue, first, whether the PR communications function should be done in-house or outsourced. My view is that the choice is based on whatever gives the best value for money. If one can do the communications in-house more cost effectively than by outsourcing, that is what one should do. Sometimes public bodies outsource this function because it is more cost effective, cheaper and better to have external experts do it. In my Department if we do not have the in-house expertise, not necessarily in public relations but in other areas, we would outsource it. For example, if we were looking for scientific advice on something, rather than hiring scientists and professors to do a one-off job, we often go to the Institute of Public Health.

The second issue is whether the health service needs to spend money on public relations.