Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 293: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has employed consultants or lobbyists to act for his Department outside the State in the past five years; the nature of the work; the cost of the work undertaken; the outcome of such action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18602/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The requested information in respect of consultants contracted in the past five years is as set out in tabular form below. No lobbyists were contracted in the period in question. The only contracted consultants were in respect of the China Festival which was developed in the context of the Government's Asia Strategy and rolled out over a 2 year period. This involved an exchange of arts and cultural festivals which were designed to make an impact in themselves and to foster ongoing relationships and understanding between Ireland and China. Both the China and Dublin based festivals were a success and contributed significantly to the deepening of cultural and commercial relationships between Ireland and China.