Written answers
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Department of An Taoiseach
Public Relations Contracts Data
Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Taoiseach the details of the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department per annum since March 2011 in tabular form; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups. [39509/16]
Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The following table provides details of external public relations firms employed by my Department from 9 March 2011 to 7 December 2016:
| Year | Name of Consultant | Purpose of Consultancy |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 and 2013 | Caroline Erskine, Media and Public Affairs Consultant | To assist in the implementation of the communications plan for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and Associated Projects |
| 2013 and 2014 | Q4 Public Relations | Support for the Convention on the Constitution |
| 2016 | Q4 Public Relations | Media liaison services for the Citizens' Assembly |
My Department ensures that it gets best value for money in the procurement of all goods and services and keeps to a minimum the engagement of public relations firms. In the cases set out above, the use of external public relations firms was limited to work carried out for Ireland's EU Presidency in 2013 and the Constitutional Convention. In September of this year a contract was awarded to a public relations firm, following a competitive tendering process, to provide support for the newly established Citizens' Assembly.
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