Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of occasions on which he has sought advice from public relations consultancy firms or individuals, media advisers or other non-established civil servants in the past three years; if such advisers are retained on a permanent or [i]per diem[/i] basis or otherwise; if such persons have had previous experience with Government Departments or subsidiary bodies; the rate and basis of remuneration in each case; the Departmental headings from which payments were made; the extent to which payments were made under the heading miscellaneous; if reference will be made to same in the case of each Minister of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3778/06]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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My Department sought advice and support on one occasion from a communications company in 2005. The communications firm Fleishman-Hillard-Saunders of 15 Fitzwilliam Quay, Dublin 4, were contracted in November to provide this advice and support in relation to the communications element of the restructuring of the inland fisheries sector. The contract, which is ongoing, carries a maximum possible cost of €29,000 exclusive of administrative costs and VAT.

I employ a media adviser on a full-time basis who is employed as a temporary unestablished civil servant and paid on the principal officer, modified, salary scale. I have regular ongoing consultations with the media adviser.