Madam, – While Conor Brady is correct in asserting that foreign media are failing to accurately reflect the positive aspects of Ireland and its economy, his allegation that the Government is doing nothing about it is well off the mark (Opinion, November 16th). In fact, for almost two years now, the Department of Foreign Affairs has been operating a specific unit charged with doing just that. Working with the Government Information Service, the Department of Finance, other departments and State agencies, it provides our network of diplomatic missions with a wide range of information on a daily basis. Our ambassadors and their colleagues, who, notwithstanding Mr Brady’s comments, have a long-established track record in exerting influence abroad, are actively lobbying opinion-formers and all major media organisations, including the nine “truly influential financial news organisations” which he identifies. We not only have the telephone numbers and e-mail of their front offices but also those of their editors, key reporters and financial commentators and we use them regularly. We also frequently organise and assist visits to Ireland for the economic correspondents of the major news agencies around the world. This has been particularly the case over the past number of weeks, including this week a group of journalists from the Japanese economic press. If Mr Brady thinks that such visits consist of a two-minute call to Merrion Street, he needs to update himself.
The problem which Conor Brady, as a former editor, should know is that good news does not sell newspapers – however persuasively and persistently it is presented. Sadly, the economic downturn has brought its share of bad news to report about Ireland and, in the department’s monitoring of the international media, we have been able to observe how negative comments made here are instantly picked up and amplified abroad, thereby compounding our problems.
Of course more can be done to promote the positive side of Ireland’s story. For instance, as Lara Marlowe reported (World News, November 13th), proposals were put forward at last week’s meeting of the Global Irish Network in New York to more fully mobilise Ireland’s friends around the world to speak on our behalf.
This and other suggestions will be followed up. We will continue to promote a positive and credible message, based on the facts of Ireland’s true position. It is a shame that Mr Brady’s opinion piece only partially reflects the efforts being made. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I have just seen Conor Brady’s article (Opinion, November 16th). How right he is. As director of the (then) Government Information Bureau I also directed and oversaw the co-ordinated international media campaign to which he refers and would like to thank him for his kind words. While doing so I also endeavoured to persuade the powers that be (or that were) to establish a permanent international information arm, but with no success. There was too much opposition mainly, and surprisingly, from the Department of Foreign Affairs, of whom Mr Brady says correctly, but in no spirit of criticism: “It is fatuous to imagine that Irish embassies abroad can do the job. They simply do not have the personnel with the necessary skill sets.” This is all too true and obvious – to all outside the Department of Foreign Affairs and those they can influence at home. – Is mise,