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Leo Varadkar defending the establishment of his new communications unit this afternoon.

Varadkar surprised that the opposition are 'more obsessed about his PR than he is'

The Strategic Communications Unit is to hire an additional three staff members.

TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has again defended the establishment of his new Strategic Communications Unit (SCU).

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin and Labour’s Joan Burton all rounded on the Taoiseach this afternoon, accusing him of setting up a “spin” machine within his own department.

The opposition members wanted answers about staffing, costs and whether the top jobs were filled through the Public Appointments Service.

The new SCU exists in tandem with the current Government Information Service (GIS) which deals with all communications concerning the Department of the Taoiseach and will continue to run day-to-day communications.

Much debate has been generated by the new media unit, which has been described as something of a personal project for the Taoiseach since he took up office in early June.

Varadkar has long been the focus of accusations that public image is a higher priority for him than other political concerns.

However, he claims that the new unit will incur no additional expense for the exchequer, and will be funded entirely from within “existing allocations”.

‘Political propaganda unit’

McDonald told the Taoiseach the new communications unit is just a “souped-up PR function” for government, while Bruton said it is a “political propaganda unit”. Martin said it is “the largest political spin operation in the history of this the Irish government”.

The Fianna Fáil leader asked about the appointments already made to the new unit, which include well-known marketing expert John Concannon – the man behind the 1916 commemorations, the Wild Atlantic Way, The Gathering and Creative Ireland – and Andrea Pappin who previously headed up the government’s Brexit information service and was previously involved in the government’s action plan for jobs.

Varadkar said all the employees in the new unit are public servants, who have been redeployed to their new positions, at no additional cost.

Salaries 

Concannon works at the assistant secretary grade which commands a salary of between €122,313 and €139,728, while Pappin is on an assistant principal higher grade of between €83,519 and €102,212.

Varadkar told the Dáil today that in addition to Concannon and Pappin, another six people have been hired to work in the SCU. A further three people are due to be hired shortly, he explained, adding that these appointments would be advertised through the Public Appointments Service.

Martin said the Taoiseach could not “dress it up” in any other way, stating that these are political appointments.

Burton questioned how the top jobs were filled, asking were these positions also advertised.

Varadkar confirmed that the establishment of the new unit was “absolutely my idea”, adding that he suggested Concannon (who was at the time the head of Creative Ireland) head up the new unit.

He clarified that he did not have any part in staffing the other positions, stating that this was done by the department’s secretary general, adding that it is not the Taoiseach’s role to “decide how people are staffed in the public service”.

Civil servants 

The Taoiseach said it was “pretty normal” for those working in the civil service to be redistributed.

Arts Minister Heather Humphreys faced questions on the issue by Burton later in the day, who asked her when she first heard that Concannon was leaving his job in Creative Ireland.

Humphreys explained that Concannon told her in person that a new job opportunity had arisen, and she wished him well. The minister also confirmed that her department will shortly be advertising for his replacement as the head of Creative Ireland.

She said she expects there will be “great interest” in the job.

Since the establishment of the new unit, the Taoiseach has maintained that it will be “cost neutral” and has not cost anything to date.

However, Burton pointed out that the jobs that the civil servants vacated to take up their new roles in the SCU will have to be filled, highlighting that this is the case with finding a new head of Creative Ireland.

Doing some quick mathematics in the chamber, Burton said that with the two top jobs taking salaries of some €120,000 and with six people in the unit taking an average of €70,000 a year, the cost on salaries alone would amount to some €420,000.

She said this did not include the tender for €160,000 – advertised last week – which is being awarded to a company to gauge how the public perceives the government.

“I think this is wrong,”said Burton, who added that she could not agree with funds being diverted to the new unit when there are health and housing crises ongoing.

She said the unit is being used to spread “good news” from government, and questioned whether the Taoiseach’s face would be appearing on the side of buses telling the public to “be happy”.

Best practice internationally

Varadkar defended the new unit, stating again that communications is a “virtue”. He said the new unit is “best practice” internationally, adding that similar models exist in Holland and the UK.

He was at pains to state that it will not carry out any political messaging, and will reduce duplication across all government departments.

The Taoiseach said he believed the new unit would reduce expenditure in the long-term, adding that the public had the right to know the full story about what the government was doing and where their money is being spent.

He said he found it “bizarre” that Burton would say the media love him and that he loves the media, stating that when he opens up the Sunday newspapers every week, he did not feel like the media loved him, or that he loved them for that matter.

The Fine Gael leader said he was also surprised that the opposition were “more obsessed” about his PR than he is.

Read: ‘Any government worth its salt has done this’ – senior figures exult in Leo’s new ‘strategic communications unit’>

Read: Varadkar says his new separate PR unit has cost nothing to date>

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    Mute john Appleseed
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:36 PM

    Leo is upset that the opposition are highlighting his wasteful spending is a more accurate headline.

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    Mute Stan
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    Sep 27th 2017, 6:56 PM

    Hey Leo, who really CHEATS US ALL? You won’t even have to leave your own Inner circle Leo.

    72
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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Oct 12th 2017, 11:25 PM

    @john Appleseed: poor Leo, whats 5 million anyway, its just sheepie taxpayers money …

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    Mute ed w
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:33 PM

    Not his money is it . It’s ours !

    274
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    Mute Dj
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:32 PM

    No amount of PR spin could change my opinion on a Politician. To me, this communications unit will be about as useful as an Abs bench in Brian Cowens Bedroom. More waste.

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    Mute Paul Coughlan
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:48 PM

    @Dj: you mean more WAIST less ABS

    56
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    Mute Niall Quinlan
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:51 PM

    @Dj: Its laughable the way Leo has tried to spin this as opposition resentment. Spoofer of the highest order.

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    Mute Din8rtd
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    Sep 27th 2017, 6:15 PM

    @Dj:
    All politicians are the same and if I was a politician id do whatever I can to get as much money as I can then fly off into the sunset.

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    Mute john g mcgrath
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    Sep 27th 2017, 6:31 PM

    @Niall Quinlan: and a drama queen

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Oct 12th 2017, 11:26 PM

    @Dj: abs bench in Brian Clown’s bedroom. – quote of the month!

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    Mute Colin Morris
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:35 PM

    It’s not the opposition that are concerned with Leo The Sociopath’s spin.

    It’s the public.

    We need cast iron guarantees that not a single cent of taxpayers’ money will be spent on his new department of propaganda and spin.

    And that any breach of this will result in jail time for theft.

    203
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    Mute Brinster
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:42 PM

    @Colin Morris: I don’t think you understand how the Civil Service works.

    It’s all taxpayer’s money. Every Civil Servant is paid by the State. Who else would pay them?

    Revenue, HSE, Dept of Communications, Dept Social Protection, Gardai……

    Literally hundreds of thousands of Civil Servants

    50
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    Mute Porterkev
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:10 PM

    37,000 civil servants

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:17 PM

    @Porterkev: I think brinster meant public servants. Theres 304,000 of them.

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    Mute Honeybadger197
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:18 PM
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    Mute Ian James Burgess
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:41 PM

    If you aren’t doing any wrong then you don’t need people to Spin the truth

    144
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:44 PM

    The Cosmetic Taoiseach will be made up by his SCU and presented in an inoffensive, attractive, anodyne and superficial way.

    The Cosmetic Taoiseach will not be allowed by the SCU indicate his personal position on the 8th Amendment or on any divisive issues.

    The Cosmetic Taoiseach can be all things to all men if he plays his cards right and the SCU does its job.

    There is a new Teflon Taoiseach in town.

    106
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    Mute Living The Laws
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:07 PM

    its very clear the Leo is focussed only on those who subscribe to the cult of Leo. He clearly doesn’t care about the rest of us. And also clear that he is happy that his followers will only grow in numbers or at least maintain the current level of support which makes him a player in Irish politics.

    He’s not an Irish Taoiseach, he’s a Farmer Gael Taoiseach.

    75
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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:38 PM

    I am sure he will soon have a OR firm for his stance in abortion and the way he is going he will need a PR firm to look after his OR department. This man has been correctly called out on his PR obsession and he retorts like a scolded school boy, hopes dullard.

    103
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    Mute lavbeer
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:51 PM

    @Paul Fahey: the opposite of Trump when it comes to public relations and communications

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    Mute Willy Malone
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:28 PM

    Leo having a laugh at tax payer…..

    61
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    Mute Jonathan Power
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:55 PM

    The tender for how to see how the public perceives the government is €160,000 Wowzers soft money for someone in the click.

    58
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Sep 27th 2017, 7:35 PM

    @Jonathan Power: Seriously? I could give them feed back for free.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Sep 27th 2017, 6:05 PM

    If they were doing their jobs properly, there wouldn’t be any need for this new PR unit. It’s backfiring on Leo, people now know about his false public image, they know its fake, but what’s he doing, he’s making it bigger! It’s the actions that will get the votes. We’ve a homeless crisis and the gov create a new PR unit just says it all about this useless lot really.

    59
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    Mute bopter
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:29 PM

    It should be easy for Varadkar, after all he doesn’t have to spin decades of murder of innocents into a positive political message.

    53
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    Mute john Appleseed
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:42 PM

    @bopter: the old Sinn Fein line so just accept whatever any other party does!!!

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    Mute Phaedrus
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    Sep 27th 2017, 9:57 PM

    @bopter: Are you talking about Collins, Boland etc ?

    12
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    Mute David Van-Standen
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:14 PM

    The depressing thing about this is, they are all just going through the motions and playing down the clock to retirement and a fat pension.

    Their political party or alleged politics is irrelevant, Joan Burton now back in moanie Joanie voice of the people mode, she’s concerned it’s “a political propaganda unit” Lol!

    Micheal Martin is worried about political appointments, they never worried him before, and Mary lou Mac Donald thinks it’s spin! If these things aren’t the pot calling the kettle black, I don’t know what is.

    And Leo Varadkar, he says with a smug little grin that he is surprised that “the opposition is more obsessed about his PR than he is!” Come off it Leo, even the people that are your supporters know that’s complete bullshit, nobody is more self obsessed than you!
    :-)

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    Mute ""
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:26 PM

    @David Van-Standen: but he’s gay

    29
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    Mute marg fitzgerald
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    Sep 27th 2017, 9:32 PM

    @”": so nobody can criticise

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    Mute Keith
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:39 PM

    The mouth on Leo is unbelievable. His insulting comments to female members in dail are unbelievable. He shifts the Focus onto others rather than him . Typical arrogance from Fine Gael they’ll never change .

    68
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    Mute Steven C. Schulz
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    Sep 27th 2017, 6:05 PM

    Does anyone else see him and think “Blair”?

    33
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    Mute Chris Hennessy
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    Sep 27th 2017, 7:34 PM

    @Steven C. Schulz: I see him and think Thatcher

    23
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    Mute John Dman
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    Sep 27th 2017, 6:51 PM

    Will Leo be the most Useless taoiseach this country has ever seen?

    Certainly looking like it so far!

    51
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    Mute Anthony Gallagher
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    Sep 27th 2017, 6:37 PM

    The SCU sounds very east european ,kinda stasi like ,special lieing unit for the dear leader ,.tell the truth leo then you dont need to spend the taxpayers money on propaganda machine .

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    Mute Liam McGowan
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    Sep 27th 2017, 8:09 PM

    Sorry Leo … Listened to ya …Please answer the questions honestly ….So far you’re all spin with no substance.

    26
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Sep 27th 2017, 7:33 PM

    “will be funded entirely from within “existing allocations”.” So basically some service such has health or education will be paying for this ego massage?

    24
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    Mute Dolly White
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:51 PM

    Leo is an arrogant, condescending PR obsessed peacock who will get his comeuppance in the only poll that matters

    76
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    Mute dangermouse
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    Sep 27th 2017, 4:32 PM

    PR department. . Liam cosgrave must be spinning in his grave

    49
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    Mute Derek Dunne
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:06 PM

    @dangermouse: Doubtful. Liam Cosgrave is still alive at the ripe age of 97.

    41
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    Mute Stephen Maher
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    Sep 27th 2017, 7:08 PM

    Quango Quango Quangooooo, ratch cha cha cha chaaaaa,
    I sure wish i could Get on that gravy trian.

    23
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    Mute Adrian
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    Sep 27th 2017, 10:34 PM

    It’s all about the PR with leo now and the biggest mistake he’s made was publicly announcing it’s creation.

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    Mute Phaedrus
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    Sep 27th 2017, 10:07 PM

    This is sounding very like our MINESTRY OF TRUTH, or MINITRUE in newspeak.

    Leo’s a big disappointment ! Egotistical…

    12
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    Mute Nowa Huta
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    Sep 27th 2017, 9:30 PM

    He used to talk abov every other department and how he would do things differently yet leaving his own in a total shambles. Now the questions are thrown at him he will be finally found out at what he really is a trash talker

    16
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    Mute Joseph Dempsey
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    Sep 27th 2017, 5:02 PM

    Leo is quite the arrogant T@)R@G, but i have to say, anyone who can wind up Mary Loo MC donald is deserving of a handshake, she is just ghastly and needs to just go away, Please, Pretty please….

    23
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    Mute Shea Fitzgerald
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    Sep 28th 2017, 4:40 AM

    It’s hard to take seriously the objections of any politician, no matter what party or persuasion, regarding any other politician’s communications strategy AKA ‘spin’ when even bacteria know that spin is the stock-in-trade of all politicians.

    2
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