Written answers

Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Department of Justice and Equality

Departmental Expenditure

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount spent by his Department on photography by photographer and or agency, public relations or communications advice external to the media officers of his Department, by agency; the use of public relations or communications advice by an agency fully funded by his Department by agency and month, in tabular form since 1 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6752/18]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Press and Communications Office of my Department procured photography and design software in November 2016. Since this date, that Office has provided photography and design services throughout the Department both at events and in the production of multi-media content. This has greatly reduced the need for my Department to engage the services of external photographers.

The following is the amount spent by my Department on photography and public relations/communications advice from external photographers and agencies since 1 January 2016:

YearCompanyService providedAmount Spent
2016Maxwell PhotographyPhotography Services1,797.24
2016Finbarr O’Rourke PhotographyPhotography - 'Someone Like Me' Primary Schools Art Competition676.50
2016The Communications Clinic Ltd.Preparation and delivery of communications strategy to support the implementation of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.24,221.24
2017Real NationAdministration and running of the 'Someone Like Me' Primary Schools Art Competition.30,203
2017The Communications Clinic Ltd.Preparation and delivery of communications strategy to support the implementation of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.2691.24

The following table sets out the information sought in relation to agencies of my Department, by agency and month, since 1 January 2016. The following agencies have reported no expenditure on public relations or communications advice: Office of Inspector of Prisons, Office of State Pathologist, Criminal Assets Bureau, Irish Film Classification Office, the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, Probation Service, Property Services Regulatory Authority, Private Security Authority, Policing Authority, Legal Services Regulatory Authority. I have asked agencies who were not in a position to provide the information requested in the time available to communicate it to you directly.

AgencyMonth/YearCompanyAmount Spent
GSOCSeptember 2017Claire Grady9,720
GSOCOctober 2017Claire Grady3,220
GSOCNovember 2017Claire Grady5,200
GSOCDecember 2017Claire Grady7,460
GSOCJanuary 2018Claire Grady5,480
Data Protection CommissionFebruary 2016Powerscourt Financial Media6,841.88
Data Protection CommissionMarch 2016Powerscourt Financial Media2,767.50
Data Protection CommissionApril 2016Powerscourt Financial Media615.00
Data Protection CommissionJune 2016Powerscourt Financial Media1,695.94
Data Protection CommissionSeptember 2016Powerscourt Financial Media22,601.25
Data Protection CommissionNovember 2016Powerscourt Financial Media18,142.50
Data Protection CommissionDecember 2016Powerscourt Financial Media572.79
Data Protection CommissionJanuary 2017Powerscourt Financial Media23,810.34
Data Protection CommissionMarch 2017Powerscourt Financial Media5,997.66
Data Protection CommissionApril 2017Powerscourt Financial Media20,974.01
Data Protection CommissionMay 2017Powerscourt Financial Media14,886.28
Data Protection CommissionJune 2017Powerscourt Financial Media16,635.77
Data Protection CommissionAugust 2017Powerscourt Financial Media8,917.50
Data Protection CommissionSeptember 2017Powerscourt Financial Media8,331.12
Data Protection CommissionOctober 2017Powerscourt Financial Media10,531.88
Data Protection CommissionDecember 2017Powerscourt Financial Media14,145.00
Data Protection CommissionJanuary 2018Powerscourt Financial Media9,378.75
Insolvency Service of IrelandJanuary 2016Hume Brophy 2,472.30
Insolvency Service of IrelandFebruary 2016Hume Brophy 4,256.60
Insolvency Service of IrelandMarch 2016Hume Brophy 2,461.11
Insolvency Service of IrelandApril 2016Hume Brophy4,428.86
Insolvency Service of IrelandMay 2016Hume Brophy1,134.68
Insolvency Service of IrelandJune 2016Hume Brophy553.50
Insolvency Service of IrelandJuly 2016Hume Brophy1,190.03
Insolvency Service of IrelandAugust 2016Hume Brophy1,906.50
Insolvency Service of IrelandSeptember 2016Hume Brophy1,230.00
Insolvency Service of IrelandOctober 2016Hume Brophy2,546.10
Insolvency Service of IrelandNovember 2016Hume Brophy1,494.45
Insolvency Service of IrelandJanuary 2017Hume Brophy2,721.01
Insolvency Service of IrelandFebruary 2017Hume Brophy 2,130.98
Insolvency Service of IrelandMarch 2017Hume Brophy1,190.03
Insolvency Service of IrelandApril 2017Hume Brophy498.15
Insolvency Service of IrelandMay 2017Hume Brophy387.45
Insolvency Service of IrelandJune 2017Hume Brophy738.13
Insolvency Service of IrelandAugust 2017Hume Brophy1,230.00
Insolvency Service of IrelandSeptember 2017Hume Brophy1,051.65
Insolvency Service of IrelandOctober 2017Hume Brophy1,715.85
Insolvency Service of IrelandNovember 2017Hume Brophy3,514.73
Insolvency Service of IrelandJanuary 2018Hume Brophy525.83
The Courts ServiceJanuary 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceFebruary 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceMarch 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceApril 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceMay 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceJune 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceJuly 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceJan - July 2016Curran Communications Ltd. (expenses)616.64
The Courts ServiceAugust 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceSeptember 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceOctober 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceNovember 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceDecember 2016Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceAug - Dec 2016Curran Communications Ltd. (expenses)1,607.08
The Courts ServiceJanuary 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceFebruary 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceMarch 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceApril 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceMay 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceJune 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceJuly 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceAugust 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceSeptember 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceOctober 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceJan - Oct 2017Curran Communications Ltd. (expenses)1,174.46
The Courts ServiceNovember 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceDecember 2017Curran Communications Ltd.8,333.33
The Courts ServiceNov - Dec 2017Curran Communications Ltd. (expenses)1,517.00

In relation to the Data Protection Commission, the availability of expert communications services to the DPC, such as that provided by Powerscourt Financial Media Ltd, is integral to the effectiveness of the office in dealing, in particular, with the very significant international communications challenges associated with regulating the EU data processing operations of most of the world’s leading technology companies that have located their European operations in Ireland. In addition, in the context of the coming into force on 25 May 2018 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the DPC has launched a broad based communications campaign to raise awareness of the new law. These communications activities are focused on building awareness of the very significant additional obligations the GDPR will place on organisations, as well as the greatly strengthened rights it extends to individuals to have their personal data protected and safeguarded.

The spend in relation to the Insolvency Service of Ireland relates to the 'Back on Track' campaign. The 'Back on Track' campaign promotes the ISI's range of debt solutions at every opportunity in a range of ways including through the backontrack.ie website, targeted advertising campaigns (including TV, video on demand, outdoor, press, radio, and online), information booklets which are distributed nationwide, and presentations and meetings with relevant groups. Research has found that the campaign has greatly increased awareness of the ISI's services. Those who availed of an ISI solution have also spoken of the immense sense of relief once they took the first step to address their debt problems.

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