andMr. Timmons asked the Minister for Finance if he will give details, including the cost and country of manufacture of each item, of all amenities provided since March, 1973, for personal use in the office of the Minister for Labour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Labour Ministry Office Amenities.
18.
During the period in question no items or amenities were supplied for the personal use of the Minister for Labour.
The following items were supplied for the official use of the Minister and his staff——
1. A black and white television set— Irish assembled. The cost including the erection of the aerial, which was fabricated in Ireland, was £244.
2. Radio—Irish made—£17.
3. Tape Recorder/Radio — Irish made—£27.53.
4. Office chair and bookcase—Irish made—£85.
5. I.B.M. Golf Ball Typewriter—— made in Holland—£466.
6. Shredder—made in West Germany—£13.34.
7. Dictator and Transcriber—made in Austria—£180.
A shower was also installed in the Department. This is available for the use of personnel other than the Minister. The shower unit, which was imported from Britain, cost £80. The balance of the materials involved which were of Irish manufacture cost £140.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary what size screen is on the television set?
I have not got that, but I can pass the information on to the Deputy.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he would confirm that precisely the same facilities were provided for the office of Deputy Lynch, Deputy Colley and Deputy Haughey when they were in office?
Yes. Deputy Haughey, when Minister for Finance in 1967, got a shower which cost £600; Deputy
Colley, when Minister for Industry and Commerce in 1967-68, got one for £340; and during the term of office of the former Taoiseach, Deputy J. Lynch, in 1968, provision for a shower was included in a general improvement scheme which cost £2,550.
May I also ask the Parliamentary Secretary to confirm that precisely the same shower facilities have been provided for Deputies, Senators and staff in Leinster House?
What is the Deputy talking about? There are four of us in one room.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if the shower that was provided was a replacement for one that was already there or was it a new one? May I ask the same question in relation to the typewriter, the shredder, the television set, the radio, tape recorder and other items he mentioned?
The Minister's staff felt these things were needed and they were provided.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary the total cost of these visual, aural and hygienic aids which the Minister got?
There is nothing extraordinary about what the Minister got.
I am asking for the total cost.
I will add it up for the Deputy.
No. 19.