A Sligo/Leitrim TD has hit out at the allocation of five million euro in the budget for a new government communications unit headed by Sligoman John Concannon.
Mr Concannon, regarded as one of the country’s top marketing professionals, played a key role in projects such as the promotion of the Wild Atlantic Way and The Gathering.
He also led the government’s strategy on the Easter Rising commemorations in 2016.
Speaking in the Dail on the Finance Bill, Fianna Fail Deputy Marc MscSharry outlined issues that he felt needed to be dealt with as a result of the budget, including the pension entitlements of people who had a break in their work.
He also said issues with Stamp Duty penalised farmers who wanted to enlarge and consolidate their farms.
But he reserved his strongest criticism for the €5m allocated for the government’s new strategic communications unit:
