Unit not a spin machine, claims Government

THE Government last night insisted its media monitoring unit is non-political, despite an internal departmental memo comparing its role to a key part of Tony Blair's infamous spin machine.

The revealing memo compared the Communications Unit, which costs the taxpayer €300,000 a year, to the British Labour Party's infamous quick response unit in Millbank, London, and said its job was to swiftly warn ministers about controversies.

"The principal function of the unit is to act as an early warning system to Government about critical/negative media coverage and ensuring the relevant Government department is in a position to respond quickly," the memo says.