Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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124. To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide a schedule of social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities engaged by his Department and bodies under his aegis in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; if he will include the fees expended, name of personality and campaign they were engaged on; and if he will also provide the key performance indicators in respect of their engagement [9907/23]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Shared Island Dialogue series which has taken place over the past 24 months has so far engaged more than 2,500 citizens and civic representatives from across all regions, sectors and communities on the island of Ireland. Each Dialogue event has a different thematic focus, related to all-island cooperation and relationships under the Good Friday Agreement. A moderator with experience of facilitating discussion on relevant themes is contracted for each Dialogue event. Further Shared Island Dialogues are planned this year. The average fee across the 11 Dialogue events outlined below was €1,247 inclusive of VAT where applicable with a total expenditure of €13,718.25.

In 2021 the COVID-19 #Antiviral communications campaign was designed by and for young people, allowing them to share their experiences of the pandemic, while reinforcing key public health guidance. Pluto Communications were paid €185,742 for the creation and production of this campaign which included the use of social media influencers.

The Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality paid €300 to Cathal MacCoille for moderation of one of the Assembly’s sessions in 2021. A payment of €16,250 was made to Dr Aoibhínn Ní Shúilleabháin in January 2023 in recognition for her work as Chair of the Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity.

In 2021, the members of the Future of Media Commission were paid a stipend for their work on the Commission of €13,750. Members under the category requested by the Deputy include Lynette Fay, freelance broadcaster, and Sinead Burke, writer and academic and founder of Tilting the Lens. These payments are sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform.

The National Economic and Social Development Office, the only body under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach, have not engaged with any social media influencers, online personalities, television and or radio personalities between 2021 to date.