On behalf of the Labour Party, I send my condolences and those of my party to and express solidarity with all those who lost loved ones or are fighting for their lives, injured or affected in any way by the appalling events in Las Vegas.

Since taking office, concerns have been raised that the Government prioritises spin over substance. In recent weeks there has been some evidence to give weight to such fears. First, there was the creation of the new strategic communications unit, with an assistant secretary level head and a staff of five members. Incidentally, since the creation of the new unit no press releases have been posted on the Taoiseach's departmental website. We then began to hear about a principal officer-level vacancy being created to head up the communications functions in individual Departments, although it is unclear, so far, how many such individual posts have been created. Together, these changes represent a very significant taxpayer investment in Government communications. The Taoiseach formally told the House that the investment in communications would be cost neutral, but that is only true if the vacancies in question are filled at the expense of other areas of the Civil Service and the public service. It is time that the Taoiseach provided clarity on the number of positions he is creating and the total cost involved.

The creation of these new public sector jobs was a story and in recent weeks we have seen two more stories which cause some concern. The first was the publication of a tender by the Taoiseach's Department, valued at €130,000, plus VAT, each year, for commissioning tracking polls. All political parties invest in tracking polls or polls of some sort to test the public mood on issues, but with this tender it seems that Fine Gael wants to shift the burden away from the party onto the taxpayer. When we were in government, we commissioned research after individual referendum results, but we published the results. I have two questions. First, will the Taoiseach commit to publishing the results of any tracking poll paid for from the public purse? Second, will he set out, in full, the cost of the communications unit and the staff members he is putting in place?

I have heard the allegation on a number of occasions that the Government is putting style ahead of substance. I have even seen in the speaking points of one of the Opposition parties that this is something its spokespeople are instructed to say when giving interviews. Congratulations to the Deputy on having some success in getting commentators and others to repeat his speaking points.

They are just saying the truth. It is quite obvious what is going on.

If Deputy Brendan Howlin wants to see the substance, I will give him some examples.

Just answer the two questions asked.

In the past few months this is the substance the Government has brought about.

The Taoiseach might answer the two questions asked.

Today the unemployment rate fell to 6.1%. A total of 50,000 jobs have been created this year so far. The universal social charge is down, while the minimum wage is up. Pensions are also up, as are payments to people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the unemployed. We have hired 900 additional special needs assistants and brought in bursaries to help lone parents to access education.

Is that the list the Taoiseach handed out to his parliamentary party last week?

We have brought in medical cards for children with disabilities by right; started construction work on the national children's hospital; paid off IMF loans early; and concluded a public sector pay agreement with public servants to restore the pay of 90% of public servants within the next few years.

Is the Taoiseach reading his script? The unit prepared the script for him.

We presented Ireland's Rugby World Cup bid in London the other day.

This is an election statement.

We have introduced subsidised child care for families across Ireland and extended treatment benefits, invalidity pension and maternity and paternity benefits to the self-employed. We have laid out a very clear position on Brexit and next week we will bring forward a budget that will balance the books for the first time in ten years. That is a lot of substance.

Tell us about the Olympia interview.

The Taoiseach is relatively new to his office. He might want to understand the Taoiseach is accountable to this House and that when questions are asked, the simple courtesy of giving answers to those questions is actually expected. That is how Parliament works. I will ask the two questions again and this time the Taoiseach might reply without the spin. What is the full cost of the communications unit and individuals the Taoiseach has put in place since he took office? Will the the findings of the tracking polls he has commissioned at a cost of €130,000, plus VAT, per year be published in order that we can all benefit from them?

The Deputy is absolutely right to point out that when he was in government with my party, we commissioned research on polls. I am not sure we are actually carrying out polls-----

Unpublished.

-----but certainly the strategic communications unit is going to carry out some research. I have no difficulty at all with the findings being published. I note that the Deputy has pointed out that this is not new. It is something the last and previous Governments did.

Only after referenda.

Therefore, it is not a major change.

In terms of staffing levels, there will be six staff in the new unit who will be seconded from other areas of the public service. I do not yet know what the net cost will be, but as soon as I do, I will let the Deputy know. I do not know about the staff being employed at departmental level. The Deputy will have to ask the individual Departments about that matter.

It is very much my view that communications are a virtue. There is a big deficit in communications between the Government and the general public. The public have a right to know what the Government does, how their taxes are being spent and about the programmes under way. We intend to improve that process. A huge amount of money is spent by the Government and agencies on communications. Approximately 750 staff work across Departments and different agencies in communications and public relations in some way, for which, believe it or not, the total budget is €170 million, much of which is valid. It involves Tourism Ireland marketing Ireland abroad and Bord Bia marketing the food industry. It involves advertisements advising people to attend for their BreastCheck examination or receive the influenza vaccine. It is all very good spending, but a certain proportion of it involves different Departments and agencies advertising their own logos and so on. That is exactly the kind of thing I want to change. It has been done in Britain and the Netherlands where the overall cost of government communications across Departments and agencies has been reduced, but in a much better way.

There is huge confusion. Many people do not know whether an agency is part of central government or local government or whether that agency is even a Government body.

Try investing in education then.

People often think Government agencies are non-governmental organisations, NGOs. This is an opportunity to end that fragmentation, save money and have clearer communications. That is what we intend to do.

The Taoiseach needs to give people a little more credit. They are a little more intelligent than he thinks.