Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of credit cards issued for Departmental use to Ministers, Ministers of State or others; the person or persons authorised to use such cards; the circumstances in which use is permissible; the number of occasions on which they have been used in the life of the Government; the purpose of such use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2274/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ministers and members of staff of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, whose official duties give rise to travel or representation in this country or abroad, may obtain a corporate charge card through the Department, which defrays the cost of the annual Government duty on such cards. Alternatively, individuals may choose to use their independently acquired cards to meet official expenses and have the Government duty refunded by the Department. This arrangement applies to charge cards held by my colleagues, the Ministers of State with responsibility for trade and commerce and labour affairs, as well as to cards held by 43 members of the Department's staff. I will shortly obtain a charge card to replace a card provided by my previous Department.

In accordance with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's policy, the settlement of accounts with the credit or charge card companies is the sole responsibility of the cardholder in each case. Cardholders are not precluded from availing of the card for private use. Official expenditure, whether by credit card or other means, is recoupable from the Department, in accordance with public financial procedures, on submission of a claim supported by receipts. In the circumstances, the Department does not have information about the purposes of use or the number of occasions on which credit or charge cards have been used.