Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the public relations contracts continuing, completed and initiated during 2005; the project involved in each of these contracts; the name and address of the company involved; and the value of these contracts. [3587/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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No public relations contracts were continued, completed or initiated by the Department of Foreign Affairs during 2005. However, in the interest of completeness, the Deputy may wish to note the following: In November 2004, following an open tender process, Development Co-operation Ireland employed Real Event Solutions to design, organise and manage a primary school competition around the theme of international development and the UN Millennium development goals. The competition, which was completed in 2005, had a public relations aspect aimed at encouraging school participation, both at a regional and national level and cost €17,204, including VAT. The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Communicating Europe initiative, provided funding in 2005 to allow the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs to engage a public relations officer to publicise its work and, in particular, the role of the Oireachtas sub-committee on European Scrutiny in reviewing draft EU legislation. Two consultants were engaged by the joint committee during 2005: Jack Murray Media was paid €5,193 for work undertaken during from January to March 2005 and Rachel Dalton Communications was paid €4,350.89 for work undertaken in October and November 2005.