The Government spent nearly €800,000 on refurbishing its press room for journalists in Government Buildings, the Irish Mirror has learned.
However, despite the plush new upgrades, all press conferences at Government Buildings so far this year have been held outside.
The last official press conference held in the press centre was the launch of the Climate Action Plan on December 21 2022.
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There have also been complaints about the poor sound quality in the room, with many saying that it was easier to hear announcements before the remodel.
Sensori, whose former director Michael Stone was caught up in the Paschal Donohoe “poster gate” controversy, carried out the work on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The Government Press Centre is located in the basement of Government Buildings. Briefings in the press centre ceased in June 2022 and reopened after three months on Budget Day on September 27.
Documents released to The Mirror under Freedom of Information show that payments of €777,135 were made to Sensori for the works between July 2022 and November 2022.
A Government spokesperson said that work done to the press centre included “the replacement of the mechanical air conditioning and heating system; updating the emergency fire protection and electrical systems; and modernisation of the audio/visual communications infrastructure to provide a fit-for-purpose press conference facility with up-to-date media services”.
Despite the plush new press centre, the vast majority of press conferences so far this year have been held outside.
Journalists have complained about briefings taking place outside in the cold weather and the inability to work outside when press conferences are delayed.
Following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, two separate press conferences were held at opposite ends of the “courtyard”, which is the area outside Government Buildings.
Education Minister Norma Foley was expected to brief journalists at one end on the Government's decision to set up a scoping inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse by schools run by religious orders at 12.30pm. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien, meanwhile, was scheduled to hold another briefing at the other side of a large fountain at 1pm.
Due to the Cabinet meeting running over schedule, Minister Foley did not arrive until 1pm, leaving many journalists standing outside in the five-degree weather for 45 minutes. It also meant that Minister O’Brien’s press conference was pushed back.
Due to what one press officer described as “visual optics”, the press conferences had to take place on opposite sides of the courtyard.
This all took place while the press centre apparently sat idle. There was no answer when journalists asked why the engagements were being held outside.
The announcement of the referendum on gender equality with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Minister Foley also took place outside yesterday.
A spokesperson for the Government Information Services (GIS), who is responsible for the press centre, told the Irish Mirror: “Other facilities in the Government Buildings complex – including the courtyard and various meeting rooms – are regularly used for media events depending on a range of factors, including the nature of the event.
“The Press Centre has been used for twenty press conferences since its reopening at the end of September 2022.
“The Press Centre is available for use by all Government Departments and Offices and fulfils a variety of functions – including meetings, networking and training events – as well as media events.”
The decision to upgrade the building was taken by officials in the Department of the Taoiseach and was not a political decision, one source stressed last night.
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