THE HSE spent 11.2 million on consultancy costs in relation to the Children’s Hospital Group in 2018, Dail's Public Accounts Committee hears.
— Mary Regan (@MaryERegan) September 19, 2019
Today’s meeting of the Public Accounts Committee can be watched in link above or here.
Previously: Fill Your Boots
Former Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald; Terry Prone, of the Communications Clinic
Last night.
Journalist, director with Right To Know and Dublin Institute of Technology lecturer Ken Foxe tweeted that he had received word back from the Department of Justice yesterday.
This follows his attempts to obtain records of correspondence between the former Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald and PR advisor Terry Prone between May 8, 2014 and March 11, 2017 – a time when Ms Prone was also advising the then Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan.
Mr Foxe had initially been told there were no such records.
After appealing the matter to the Office of the Information Commissioner, the OIC discovered 68 such records of correspondence.
Last night, Mr Foxe said the Department of Justice informed him there were more than 190 such records.
He has yet to receive the documents.
But last night, Mr Foxe explained:
Previously: Frances, Nóirín and Tess
The company that fared best from the special secretarial allowance was the Communications Clinic, a well-known PR firm run by Today FM radio host Anton Savage, his mother Terry Prone, and her husband Tom Savage (a former chairman of RTÉ). In total, the company was paid €211,826 by a variety of government Ministers including Children’s Minister James Reilly, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald, and the now-EU Commissioner Phil Hogan.
Ms Fitzgerald for instance has paid the firm a sum of between €1,815 and €1,845 per-month during her time both at the Department of Justice, and before that, at the Dept of Children. Dr James Reilly pays a monthly fee of 1,845, while the monthly fee for Phil Hogan – when he was Minister for the Environment – was €2,214. The government chief whip Paul Kehoe also paid a once-off fee of €18,500 to the Communications Clinic in 2012 for public relations.
€1 million in special allowances for politicians (RTÉ Investigations Unit)
Thanks Ken Foxe
[Bobby Kerr (right) with Julian Davis, Newstalk Business Person of the Month for December]
“For December we looked at the PR Industry and out of all the nominations Julian Davis, Director at FleishmanHillard was chosen. As a founding partner of Fleishman-Hillard, Julian has been with the company over 20 years, working with companies such as Audi, Budweiser and MCD to name but a few.”
And Newstalk.
To name another.
PR FIGHT!
December Sage BPOM Julian Davis (Newstalk)
Thanks Cathal
Rosanna Davison and juggling clown Garry Rossiter today.
Anyone?
Lines close at 6pm
UPDATE: Yes it’s the launch of the Irish Heart Foundation’s ‘Fats of Life’ campaign supported by the HSE to “encourage more adults to replace bad fats in their diet with healthier ones so they can reduce their cholesterol.” Obviously.
(Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
Burial will take place in Stephen’s Green, Dublin. Photographers are reminded that Glenda, Pippa and Bressie will be attending in their nethergarments.
Via Mediacontact.ie
Near The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, within the last hour.
Anyone?
In the interests of gender balance here’s a half-naked dude.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShY7K8AYJEE
Sarah Doyle writes:
Just thought you’d like to see what I was greeted with this morning on Grafton Street.
(click to enlarge)
