John Concannon
43 results

Review of SCU unlikely to uphold claim it politicised Project 2040 publicity
- Politics
- March 20, 2018, 00:00
The Government review of its Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) is likely to reject claims it politicised the publicity campaign for Project 2040, bu(...)

Miriam Lord: US gets glimpse of ‘Global Ireland’ that borders on the incomprehensible
- Politics
- March 15, 2018
As for gifts, it’ll probably be the usual assortment of linen and books and a little something in silver. Or maybe Leo might surprise Donald with a b(...)

Fintan O’Toole: The problem isn’t the SCU. It’s Leo Varadkar
- Opinion
- March 10, 2018, 06:00
John Concannon, head of the Government’s now notorious Strategic Communications Unit (SCU), is not Josef Goebbels. The SCU is not, as one might think (...)

Ethics watchdog asked to investigate Government advertising
- Politics
- February 27, 2018, 01:30
Sipo, the State’s ethics watchdog, has been asked to investigate if the Government’s publicity campaign to promote Project Ireland 2040 has broken rul(...)

Strategic communications unit has spent €182,000
- Politics
- February 16, 2018, 01:00
The Government’s strategic communications unit has spent more than €182,000 since its creation last year. The figures released to Fianna Fáil TD Dara(...)

Tania Banotti appointed director of Creative Ireland
- Culture
- February 8, 2018, 13:15
Tania Banotti has been appointed director of Creative Ireland, the government initiative to “place creativity at the centre of public policy”. Ms Ban(...)

No rest for Paschal Donohoe as he does the budget media whirl
- Politics
- October 12, 2017, 01:00
At least Leo got a break on Wednesday: a nice few hours of downtime in the Dáil doing the bread and butter stuff such as answering questions and needl(...)

Government’s culture strategy all spin and no substance
- Culture
- October 12, 2017, 01:00
The winter sun streamed through the tall windows of the refurbished Shaw Room in the National Gallery last December as theatre directors, film-makers(...)

Varadkar contradicts himself over communications unit appointment
- Oireachtas
- October 11, 2017, 14:12
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil he did not appoint the head of the Government’s new Strategic Communications Unit but he did approach and ask him(...)

Leo Varadkar says ‘no cost’ yet for his public relations unit
- Politics
- August 31, 2017, 11:35
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has defended the establishment of a new public relations unit within his department, saying it has cost nothing to date. The S(...)