IRELAND
The Irish Government’s Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) should be wound down and replaced with a reformed Government Information Service, a review has recommended.
The review said the service should have a smaller budget, fewer staff and a more limited role than the SCU.
It was conducted following criticism of the Unit’s handling of advertisements placed in local newspapers promoting the Government’s development plan, Project Ireland 2040, which were described by the Opposition as a “shameful, callous, and deceitful propaganda project”.
The review was carried out by Secretary General of the Taoiseach’s (Prime Minister’s) Department, Martin Fraser (pictured), who said dealing with “intense political and media interest in the work of the SCU has come to dominate much of the time of the staff of the unit and of senior management”.
He said the SCU had been the subject of 203 Parliamentary Questions, 63 Freedom of Information requests as well as a number of other debates, Leader’s Questions in the Dáil (Parliament), and a large number of press queries.
“This is now actively damaging our ability to effectively focus on our strategic priorities, such as Brexit, Northern Ireland, the economy and improving public services,” Mr Fraser said.
“It has also given rise to an inaccurate perception of what the Department’s actual role and priorities are within Government.”
He said he could not ignore “the strongly expressed views of Opposition leaders who may serve in a future Government … calling for the disbandment of the SCU”.
Opposition parties said the advertisements were made to look like regular news articles; however, the Government insisted that the Unit had no influence over editorial style.
The Government said it accepted the recommendations of the review.
It is understood staff will be absorbed into existing information services.
Dublin, 28 March 2018
