Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he, his officials or advisers have had meetings with the strategic communication unit since it was set up; the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6521/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I have attended one meeting with the Strategic Communications Unit (SCU), on 14 December 2017.  The purpose of the meeting was to identify the Department of Defence’s communications priorities for the coming year.  I was accompanied at the meeting by the Secretary General of the Department, the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Strategic Planning, Defence Capability and Corporate Support, the Assistant Principal Officer with responsibility for media and communications and my special advisor.

In addition, the Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Strategic Planning, Defence Capability and Corporate Support, has attended meetings of designated Assistant Secretaries with the Strategic Communications Unit on other two occasions. On 8 November 2017, matters addressed were the work of the SCU and plans to conduct an audit of current government communications; on 14 December attendees were briefed on progress by the SCU. 

The Assistant Principal Officer who is assigned as the departmental point of conduct for the SCU attended a briefing meeting on the 11 December 2017, a workshop on Ireland’s Global Footprint on 22 January 2018 and a Masterclass Workshop on Unified Government Identity on 5 February 2018.  The Department's Press Officer attended a mobile journalism course organised by the SCU on 19 January 2018.