Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [37366/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Photographers are booked for the purpose of recording key events attended by Ministers, such as the launch of schemes and programmes, new initiatives and visits by inward delegations. Where possible, the Press Office uses in house photography. The policy for booking a photographer for official purposes is that, my Departments Press Office seeks 3 quotes in advance of each photo-shoot to keep costs to a minimum.

PHOTOGRAPHY PAYMENT DETAILS MARCH - DECEMBER 2011

PHOTOGRAPHY PAYMENT DETAILS JANUARY – AUGUST 2012

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [37438/12]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [37454/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1363 and 1364 together.

My Department hosts visiting delegations e.g. trade delegations, technical experts who visit Ireland to carry out advance inspections of Irish meat plants in anticipation of the opening up of new markets or visits by audit/inspection missions from statutory bodies such as EU Food and Veterinary Office, EU Commission. As part of this role, I as Minister would host visits by Ministers, EU Commissioners, diplomats and senior policy makers from other countries. In addition, Department officials are expected to host working lunches and dinners for EU and international colleagues as part of their on-going work in furthering Ireland’s agenda e.g. the ending of the milk quota regime, the review of the CAP and the review of the CFP. Their task is to build strategic alliances with other like-minded states so as to get the best possible deal for Ireland.

It is not possible to give the figures in the exact manner requested but the following information has been extracted from the Departments records for 2011 and the year 2012 to end of August. These figures cover Ministers and officials combined and includes all aspects of the cost of hosting foreign delegations e.g. accommodation, transport and food.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [37470/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department has not spent any money on hair and make-up since I took office.