Leo Varadkar's spin unit at heart of key decisions

Leo Varadkar’s new spin unit is operating at the heart of government, answering parliamentary questions, co-ordinating events in the Taoiseach’s constituency, and even helping set up the rural affairs department.

The Strategic Communications Unit (SCU) has also been involved in training civil servants, inputting directly into department management board meetings, and drawing in senior officials for its communications strategy.

The revelations in the Irish Examiner throw into question a defence by the Taoiseach that the SCU is operating at “arm’s length” and will raise concerns about the blurring of the lines between the civil service and the new PR division.