John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 440: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will confirm the number of credit cards issued by him and to whom; the criteria for issuing such cards; the credit card company used; if a competitive process was used to select the company; if the facility has had to be withdrawn from any person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11549/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 17 Credit Cards issued to staff in my Department in connection with their official duties. The cards are held by the following staff members;

Secretary General, Assistant Secretary (3), Librarian, Chief Veterinary Officer, Principal Officer, Assistant Principal (3), Higher Executive Officer (2), Administrative Officer (Private Secretary to the Minister and Minister of State) (2), Superintending Veterinary Inspector (2), Veterinary Inspector.

The credit cards are strictly managed and are issued to provide financial support to staff that regularly incur charges in the course of their official business in areas such as foreign travel and payment for goods and services provided to the Department in specific exceptional cases that necessitate payment by credit card, for example, the on-line purchase of material for the Department's Library.

My Department's credit cards are provided by one of the main commercial banks since 2006. Selection of credit card provider was made on the basis of the bank undertaking to provide a service that met the particular billing, reporting and payment terms that suited the Department. Policy and practice in relation to the issue of credit cards to officials was reviewed in 2010 and the number of cards were reduced by reference to current business needs. However, there have been no instances where a credit card had to be withdrawn from a staff member.