Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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118. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount expended on access to online and hard-copy media publications since May 2020 to date; and the breakdown of online and hard-copy subscriptions, including the publications to which his Department subscribes. [27642/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Immediate access to up-to-date and reliable information is critically important to the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs, including across the global Missions network.  The value of high quality information has been used in dealing with international challenges facing Ireland, including Brexit and COVID-19.

At Headquarters, a dedicated Library Service is responsible for the central purchase of electronic and hard copy media and other publications.  The Department’s requirements are regularly reviewed and best possible rates are routinely negotiated with suppliers.

The information requested by the Deputy for the period 1 May 2020 to date is set out in the following table:

Ireland's 90 diplomatic and consular Missions purchase a wide range of local and international online and hard copy publications to assist with analysis of the domestic and international issues in their countries of accreditation.  Expenditure by the Mission network was as follows: