De Burca queries council’s employment of PR consultant without putting post out to tender
During a recent meeting of Wicklow County Council at which the council’s policy on advertising was discussed, senior council officials revealed that they have employed a PR consultant on a month-by-month contract over the past three years. Under questioning the council officials revealed that the post had not been put out to public tender.
Green Party councillor, Deirdre de Burca says that this information raises serious questions about the way in which this individual has been employed by the council. “While no figures were forthcoming about how much the council has paid this person to date, it is not unreasonable to assume that he has been paid the market rate plus expenses” she says. “No explanation was offered as to why this post was not put out to tender. The idea that this person has been on a month-to month contract for a three year period really is not acceptable”.
De Burca reports that the PR consultant in question was formerly an employee of the People Newspapers. “When you take into consideration the council increased its advertising spend with the People newspapers by 145% over the past 5 year period, while its advertising spend on East Coast Radio only increased by 7% and decreased by 85% on the Wicklow Times, it does raise questions that councillors should be asking about whether the advertising policy of the council is fair and transparent”.
She says that council officials appear to have made a policy decision to give the vast bulk of advertising spend to the People Newspapers without consulting the councillors on the matter. “This is not acceptable to me or to other councillors” says de Burca. “There is a danger that taxpayer’s money could be used to support a newspaper that is positive towards the council and to penalise a newspaper that is more critical of the council’s conduct. This is not in the interests of democracy. A free press is essential for the proper working of democracy”.
Cllr de Burca says that the issue of the council’s employment of a PR consultant will be raised at the next council meeting and that full information should be provided by council officials.
