Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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 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. [3781/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since my appointment as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I have not sought advice from public relations consultancy firms or individuals. I have appointed Ms Caitriona Meehan as a press adviser on a full-time basis at an annual salary equivalent to the third point of the principal officer scale. Ms Meehan has experience with Departments and subsidiary bodies. The Ministers of State in the Department have not appointed any such advisers.