Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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117. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will indicate the person funding the Leviathan series of lectures entitled Communicating Europe; under what Department has it been promoted; the person responsible for the selection of speakers at this lecture series; the percentage of the fees paid to the Leviathan organisation that is coming form Irish taxpayers' money; if there was an open competition for the contract to facilitate and host these lectures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21421/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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The Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) was established in 1995 to raise awareness about the European Union and to improve the quality and accessibility of public information on European issues. The programme is administered by the Department of the Taoiseach. This year's CEI was publicly launched on 29 January 2013, see link here:. The closing date for funding applications was 15 February 2013.

Over 90 applications were received and these were examined by an evaluation committee comprising internal and external members. Forty six projects were recommended for funding. The list is here:

The proposal by Leviathan to organise four regional Citizens' Dialogues received an award of €39,000. Three have taken place (Athlone, Kilkenny and Limerick) and the last will be held in Letterkenny later this month. The arrangements for the events and selection of speakers are a matter for Leviathan. All Communicating Europe Initiative grant recipients are required to submit a report on completion of their projects.