Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Taoiseach the occasions when the Government Press Secretary made written or verbal complaints since May 2008 to date in 2009 to RTE or another national media outlet regarding the treatment of An Taoiseach; the details of such complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13578/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Government Press Secretary made two verbal complaints to RTE since the 6th of May last. The first of these was made on Friday 20th June last year, when the Government Press Secretary sought clarification of a statement attributed to the Taoiseach which was broadcast on the RTE Radio 1 Drivetime Show that same day. The second complaint followed the broadcasting on the Nine O'clock News on Monday 23rd March, of a report relating to the unauthorised hanging of paintings in two Dublin Galleries. The Government Press Secretary contacted RTE and complained about the manner in which the report was presented.

The Press Secretary made it clear he was not complaining about the factual elements of the story. His complaint related purely to how the end of the report was presented as he deemed it gratuitously offensive in its treatment of the issue. It should be noted that in the course of his duties the Government Press Secretary is required to be in regular contact with RTE and indeed many other media outlets. These contacts which are two way communications relate to a huge variety of issues. From time to time these communications include the airing of day-to-day complaints from both sides.