Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of occasions on which he has sought advice from public relations consultancy firms or individuals, media advisers or other non-established civil servants in the past three years; if such advisers are retained on a permanent or [i]per diem[/i] basis or otherwise; if such persons have had previous experience with Departments or subsidiary bodies; the rate and basis of remuneration in each case; the departmental headings from which payments were made; the extent to which payments were made under the heading miscellaneous; if reference will be made to same in the case of each Minister of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3788/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Advice from public relations consultancy firms or individuals or external media advisers was not sought by myself, my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith, or the Minister of State at my Department in the past three years. I have appointed a special adviser and a press adviser to provide me with relevant advice and press liaison services as necessary. Both have standard contracts of employment which were drawn up by the Department of Finance. These appointments are to temporary, unestablished positions in the Civil Service, and are on a full-time basis.