Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will detail, in tabular form, the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographers was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37369/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The booking of photographers is managed by the Department’s Press Office in each case.

Photography Costs: Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, February 2011 - August 2012 inclusive.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will detail in tabular form, the total cost of providing entertainment for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance; the occasions for which entertainment was provided; the entertainers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion; if there is a policy regarding the booking of entertainers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37441/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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No entertainment has been provided for my Department since I came into office. There is no specific policy regarding the booking of entertainers but it is not intended to incur any expenditure under this heading unless the Deputy has worthwhile proposals from experience that he would like me to consider.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount spent on food and drink by his Department; if he will provide a breakdown of what this involved; the occasions on which food and drink was provided; those present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37457/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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My Department’s spending on official entertainment adheres to the policy set out in circular 25/2000; the strictest economy is observed and the expenditure on Irish public officials is incidental to that of other persons that the Department is required to host during the ordinary conduct of its business. Similarly in relation to meetings and conference costs, refreshments are generally only provided where delegations or external stakeholders are being hosted.

In 2011 expenditure on official entertainment was €5,364. The majority of this amount, €4,398, was related to the visit of a foreign delegation of 12 from the International Energy Agency involved in conducting a review of Ireland’s energy policy. The sum was spent on the provision of meeting facilities, incidentals, tea, coffee and meals for 5 full days and an official dinner. In addition to the official entertainment costs, approximately €13,800 from the Department’s budget for meetings and conferences was spent on refreshments (water, tea, coffee etc).

So far in 2012 my Department has spent €836 on official entertainment. Costs associated with providing refreshments at meetings and conferences have totalled approximately €6,494 to date. Given the large volume of meetings, conference and events and the public nature of some of these it is not possible to give a detailed breakdown of what was involved or who was present.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount spent on hair and make-up by his Department since he came to office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37473/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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My Department incurred no expenditure on hair and make-up over the period in question.