Vol. 257 No. 10
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the cost of Christmas cards and greetings sent by him in 1970; if postage was provided free by his Department and, if so, the cost; and the estimated cost of cards on order this year and if the cards will be sent free of charge.
65.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the projected cost to the exchequer during the financial year 1971-72 of the sending of Christmas cards by him.
66.
andMr. L'Estrange asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the total number of hours during which civil servants were engaged in sending Christmas cards from him in 1970 and the projected corresponding number for 1971.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 65 and 66 together. The cost of Christmas greeting cards officially provided for me in 1970 was £94 5s 9d. The cost of Christmas cards being sent by me this year is estimated at £114.30. Officially provided Christmas cards are despatched as Departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
The Civil Service time on work relating to the cards is integrated with the normal work of the staff involved. It is not possible to estimate this with any accuracy but the amount would be small.
In view of the fact that the Minister is spending £20 extra on Christmas cards this year, can we assume he is sending one to Deputy Oliver Flanagan?
Might I inquire from the Minister what justifies an expenditure of an additional £20 on Christmas cards?
Inflation.
It is £20 of other people's money.
There are slightly more cards being sent.
In view of the fact that there is a slightly greater number of Christmas cards to be sent out by the Minister, am I foolish in presuming that he is addressing one to each of the 600 redundant workers who were employed this time 12 months but who are now unemployed?
Is the Minister aware of any Minister of State in any other country in the world who sends out the same number of Christmas cards as obtains here?
That seems to be a separate question.
I did not make a check on it, but I get cards from a number of overseas Ministers.
Would the Minister indicate through what other channels he sends out cards? For instance, are they sent out through Bord Fáilte or any other organisations outside the Minister's Department?
I do not send any cards out——
On the Minister's behalf?
There are no cards sent on my behalf through any of the semi-State bodies.
When the Minister says he does not send Christmas cards to semi-State bodies——
I did not say that. I said "through State bodies".
Yes, through State bodies. May I inquire in what circumstances the Minister addressed Christmas cards to at least 30 people in the constituency who are dead?
I have no recollection of having sent Christmas cards to unfortunate people——
They came into my office——
Although they were dead.
Their relatives came to me and told me that persons to whom Christmas cards were sent——
Obviously those are the only people finishing up in the Deputy's office, dead ducks.
How does the Minister expect cards addressed to dead people to be delivered.
I would not expect it.
