The Taoiseach revealed that the daily briefings provided by the government's communications unit did not advise ministers whether or not to bring an umbrella as they set about their daily chores. "They do not do the weather forecast, " Ahern told the Dail. But at an annual cost of 373,524, the unit, which gives the government a synopsis of the daily papers and hourly radio news stories, might consider a few cuttings on climate conditions. "It has no connection with the political system, " Ahern also said. But he then proceeded to reject Eamon Gilmore's request that the media monitoring data also be shared with the opposition parties.