Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Public Relations Contracts Data

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

141. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will detail in tabular form the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of each external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29120/14]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

For the period referred to by the Deputy my Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations and communications services. From time to time, consultants or companies with a public relations and communications background are commissioned to provide other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management.

DHR Communications has been contracted since 2010 to manage and administer grants under the Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF). This involves managing three funding rounds each year, including through national and regional information workshops; managing and administering the application process; organising the judging process and providing detailed feedback to all applicants; processing grant payments and keeping detailed administrative and financial records; maintaining and updating the SCMF website and managing the SCMF student competition. DHR was awarded a two-year contract to 2012 and was re-engaged in February 2012 for a further two years following a competitive tendering process. The contract was extended in 2014 for a further year.

Following a competitive tendering process, DHR was engaged to plan, manage and execute a national Africa Day flagship event in Dublin. This includes the administration of a small grants scheme for regional events which DHR managed on behalf of the Department in partnership with a number of local authorities. DHR also worked to raise public awareness of the Africa Day events, including through the use of social media and the Africa Day website. This work represented a very minor element of the project and was conducted in close cooperation with my Department's communications office. Africa Day Family Days, incorporating musical entertainment, cultural activities and an African Bazaar, were hosted by the Department in Iveagh Gardens in 2009 and 2010, in CHQ in Georges Dock in 2012 and at the Farmleigh Estate in 2013 and 2014. In 2011, the Department supported a series of smaller-scale performances, family events, art exhibitions, debates and educational activities instead of hosting a flagship event.

DHR also provided short-term management support services for the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid, including the logistical management of the nationwide public consultation activities.

The following table sets out the use of DHR engaged by my Development Cooperation Division since March 2011.

Project and Event Management March 2011 to 2 July 2014

Name of Project/EventYear
Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF) grants scheme2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
The Irish Aid White Paper Review2011, 2012
Africa Day2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.