State's €550,000 media blitz to focus on EU membership
THE GOVERNMENT is set to spend €550,000 on a media blitz centred on Ireland's EU membership in the run-up to the second Lisbon referendum.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has sent out a tender for 'Communicating Europe -- Information Campaign' which is to be contested among outside consultants.
It will target national and regional press, as well as billboard, radio and the internet.
However, the Department has ruled out spending money on television advertising because it is deemed to be too expensive. And the tender does not mention the second Lisbon referendum, which is expected to be held in October.
But Sinn Fein last night called the strategy a "scandalous waste of taxpayer's money" and a "scare tactic" designed to move the focus away from the Lisbon Treaty to Ireland's EU membership, which it says was never in question.
The Government's own information drive will run alongside a similar campaign, which is being funded by the European Commission at a cost of €1.8m.
"It is expected that this information campaign would heighten public interest and understanding of the importance of EU membership for Ireland," the tender states.
- Fiach Kelly
