Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 401: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of credit cards held by his Department; the cost of same for each year since 2000 to date in 2007; the persons who hold these cards and for whom they are used; the annual amounts purchased; the cumulative interest on same for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33585/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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One official credit card is assigned to me through the Department. The total charges incurred on this credit card are €29 in 2004 and €287 in 2005. No charges were incurred on the card for 2006 and 2007. In my Department, official credit cards are held by senior officials who need credit cards for official purposes and a small number of officials who may need to make sanctioned purchases requiring a credit card, for example subscription to on-line journals. The table details the number of cards held in each of the years 2000-2007 and the costs incurred in each year:

I draw the Deputy's attention to the amounts incurred in 2001 and 2003. In 2001, a credit card was set up and used solely for the purpose of covering delegation costs incurred in the course of the Taoiseach's visit to Brazil; an amount of €66,320 was incurred. In 2003, a credit card was set up and used solely for the purpose of covering delegation costs incurred in the course of the President's visit to Australia; an amount of €98,733 was incurred. No interest has been incurred on any of these credit cards.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost to his Department of photographers used by all Ministers in his Department on a yearly basis for each year since 1997 to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33600/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The cost of photography in my Department in each year since 1997 is as set out in the tables. Table A covers the total cost of all official photography charged to my Department. Table B relates to photography costs that are directly connected to Ministers in my Department. Since 2004 the costs for all photography connected with State events involving visiting foreign dignitaries have been charged to my Department. This includes all incoming State, official and working visits, as well as international events organised by my Department. As will be seen, there was a significant additional spend in 2004, directly as a result of our EU Presidency commitments, and 2006 saw a higher than average number of inward State and official visits. The figures in table B relate in the main to photographs of Ministers meeting senior figures such as visiting Foreign Ministers and other foreign dignitaries, both at home and abroad.

All Departments are obliged to put contracts to tender, by EU rules, if its value is estimated to be over €25,000. The contract for photography was first put out to tender in 2003 and this process was repeated in 2005.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of make-up for him for each year since 1997 to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33615/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs in September 2004, no costs have been incurred in relation to make up services.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 404: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of his Department's entertainment allowance for each year since 1997 to date in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33630/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have presented below, in tabular form, costs incurred by my Department on official entertainment for the past ten years. The purpose of this entertainment is to promote bilateral relations with other States in the context of visits by Heads of State, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and other high-level visitors, and also through visits abroad by the President, Taoiseach and Ministers. As will be seen, there was a significant additional spend in 2004 as a result of our EU Presidency commitments.

The Department's 75 Missions, as part of their ongoing work to promote Irish interests, also have access to a representational allowance.