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Garda commissioner Drew Harris speaking to the media in the Phoenix Park HQ Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

An Garda Síochána issue contract worth estimated €100,000 for media training

Effectively communicating via the media “is of critical importance in building and maintaining” public trust, the gardaí said.

AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA has put out to tender a contract worth an estimated €100,000 for “media skills training”.

They want members trained in the “skills to be able to conduct media interviews” and for dealing “with difficult and sustained questioning”. 

The aim of the contract is to initially train 30-40 personnel within An Garda Síochána in the first year, with increased numbers in subsequent years.

An Garda Síochána previously paid €113,688 to PR firm Communications Clinic over two-and-a-half years for media training up to March 2017. This followed a procurement process initiated by the gardaí.

In this new invitation to tender, An Garda Síochána said: “Telling the public via the media about how we prevent and tackle crime is of critical importance in building and maintaining that support and trust.”

It said its officers who appear in the media “must be in a position to provide clear and consistent information to the public and demonstrate their and the organisation’s professionalism, skills and expertise”.

The gardaí’s communication strategy will see a greater range of spokespeople being made available to the media from across the organisation. 

To achieve this aim, it will require a media training programme for officers and managers that will be held in Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park in Dublin or, on occasion, at the Garda College in Templemore.

Participants in the programme will perform a “number of mock radio and TV interviews based on relevant scenarios” and undertake further interviews following feedback.

From time to time, the gardaí said it will need “ongoing support” to prepare for specific interviews for which an hour rate would apply. 

The deadline to respond to the tender contract – valid for one year – is 19 February.

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    Mute Jude
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    Jan 15th 2020, 6:24 PM

    No. This training should be done in Templemore.

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    Mute Ian Breathnach
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    Jan 15th 2020, 6:30 PM

    @Jude: by whom? The Gardaí or civil servants hat are instructors down there? Fair enough, but one question how will they upskill, who will train the trainer?

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    Mute Irish Snowden
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    Jan 15th 2020, 6:37 PM

    @Jude: get over yourself

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    Mute Jude
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    Jan 15th 2020, 6:50 PM

    @Ian Breathnach: employ a media communications ‘expert’ whatever that is.

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    Mute Bi88les
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    Jan 15th 2020, 6:42 PM

    It’s easy: Don’t lie, keep it simple and to the point and again, don’t lie.
    That’ll be €100,000 thank you.

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    Mute Terry McClatchey
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    Jan 15th 2020, 7:09 PM

    @Bi88les: It is not however that easy or simple. Saying something at the wrong time (even if accurate and comprehensive) could forewarn a suspect, cause the collapse of a trial or put a vulnerable victim, witness or informer in danger. The skill to be learned is how and when to put information (or emergent suspicions) in the public domain.

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    Mute Sean O' Donovan
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    Jan 15th 2020, 6:24 PM

    They want members trained in the “skills to be able to conduct media interviews” and for dealing “with difficult and sustained questioning”.

    Family Guy has the answer in as little as 6 seconds:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOLO-YPDnFU

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    Mute Punters Pal
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    Jan 15th 2020, 6:48 PM

    To help telling lies to the public

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    Mute Dave Thomas
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    Jan 15th 2020, 7:52 PM

    Media training = spin.

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    Mute Pat Corrigan
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    Jan 15th 2020, 6:32 PM

    Always cringe when one of them superattendent whatyemaycall them fellas starts mumbling on about a crime on the telly, words like culprits, veyhickle and approximately don’t come across well. Good move though, looking forward to the new articulate Garda lads on Crimecall.

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Jan 15th 2020, 6:38 PM

    @Pat Corrigan:

    Check out clip of the last training contract for 100k

    https://youtu.be/IAHR1tk5xvU

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    Mute Alan Chapman
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    Jan 15th 2020, 7:23 PM

    @Pat Corrigan:
    earlier today approximately 3.25 pm
    A Gentleman in a mechanically propelled vehicle was observed driving in a northerly direction at approximately 187 kilometres per hour, we suspect the afore said gentleman was acting in a not too suspicious manner in the ballymuck and surrounding area’s and would therefore appeal to any members of the public to get in contact via our anonymous helpline if having observed such activity . We would be most interested in engaging in conversation with this gentleman or any person’s having witnessed this suspicious behaviour
    Contact an Garda siochanoly as expidiously as possible

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    Mute Paul Lanigan
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    Jan 15th 2020, 7:36 PM

    @Pat Corrigan: says the man who says “them fellas” scarlet for ya….

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    Mute Patrick Trench
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    Jan 15th 2020, 7:08 PM

    Need to pronounce vehicle.

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    RO'S
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    Mute RO'S
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    Jan 15th 2020, 7:08 PM

    In the day of the camera phone, social media and the keyboard warrior this is essential training for Gardai. Money well spent.

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    Mute Denis Smyth
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    Jan 15th 2020, 7:38 PM

    I thought the garda weren’t a loud talk to the media money would be better spent teaching them manners

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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Jan 15th 2020, 8:48 PM

    @Denis Smyth: hmmmm… or maybe you should be more concerned about learning how to type sentences in english ……..

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    Mute Denis Smyth
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    Jan 15th 2020, 11:41 PM

    @Dave Hammond: You translate it

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Jan 15th 2020, 7:06 PM

    A good media comms coach can easily charge 100k a year full time. How to write a speech, prepare one, his to be objective, how to public speak with confidence, diction, posture… When you go on national TV or radio, you need to be a pro.

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    Mute Paul Dooley
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    Jan 15th 2020, 8:20 PM

    Surely that’s not enough
    I’d need at least that every month to train those lads especially the ones that became guards after 6 months steady drinking down in tipperary

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    Mute Bhrian Seosamh O Droma
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    Jan 16th 2020, 12:01 AM

    More money for Terry Prone and Anto Savage!!!

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    Mute David Nolan
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    Jan 15th 2020, 10:00 PM

    Stop talking to the media. You are police.

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    Mute Ian James Burgess
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    Jan 16th 2020, 5:20 AM

    It hasn’t done Leo any good, still keeps putting his foot in it

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    Mute MickN
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    Jan 16th 2020, 2:27 PM

    Find and prosecute those who stole thousands in cash from Garda barracks around the country would go a long way to instil trust….

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