asked the Taoiseach in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
Written Answers. - Christmas Cards Issued.
396.
I did not issue any Christmas cards in my capacity as Taoiseach not did Deputy Sean Moore, in his capacity as Minister of State at my Department and the Department of Defence.
Last Christmas 1,260 Christmas cards costing £522.29 were sent out by me in my capacity as Minister for Health, and 1,100 Christmas cards costing £455.96 in my capacity as Minister for Social Welfare. As these were of an official nature they were despatched as normal Departmental post, and there is no separate record of the postage cost.
397.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
A total of 1,500 Christmas cards, the vast majority of which were sent abroad, were sent by my predecessor, at Christmas 1979 at a cost of £370 plus £225 postage.
The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs sent 500 Christmas cards at a cost of £84 plus £60 postage.
398.
asked the Minister for Defence in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
The number of Christmas cards sent out by me was 160; the purchase price was £6.86. The cards were despatched as departmental post and no separate record of the cost of postage was kept.
The details requested in respect of the present Minister of State at my Department who is also Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach are being included by the Taoiseach in a reply to a similar question. Particulars in regard to cards issued by the former Minister of State at my Department, now Minister for Health and Social Welfare, are being included by him in a reply to a similar question.
399.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
The number of Christmas cards sent out by me in 1979 was 150 at a cost of £30.50.
The number of Christmas cards sent out by the then Minister of State, Deputy Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, was 410 at a cost of £68.88.
The number of Christmas cards sent out by the Minister of State, Deputy Raphael Burke, was 510 at a cost of £83.30.
Officially provided Christmas cards are despatched as departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
400.
asked the Minister for Justice in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
The number of Christmas cards sent by me in Christmas 1979 was 597. The total cost of the cards was £89.55. As these cards were despatched with normal departmental post for the period in question, no separate record is available regarding the cost of postage.
The Minister of State attached to my Department did not send any Christmas cards from the Department.
401.
asked the Minister for Finance in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
The information is as follows: (a) (i) 1,482 official greeting cards at a cost of (ii) £276 were sent by my predecessor as Minister for Finance; (b) (i) 600 official greeting cards at a cost of (ii) £186 were sent by the present Minister of State's predecessor; (iii) official greeting cards are despatched as departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
402.
asked the Minister for the Environment in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
The number and cost of cards sent by me and the Ministers of State were as follows:
|
Number |
||
|
of Cards |
Cost |
|
|
£ |
||
|
Minister |
600 |
108 |
|
Minister of State (Deputy O'Leary) |
700 |
115 |
|
Minister of State (Deputy Fahey) |
200 |
30 |
|
Minister of State |
Nil |
Nil |
|
(Deputy Connolly) |
The cards were despatched as departmental post and there is no separate record of the post cost, but it is estimated at £72, £84 and £24 respectively.
403.
asked the Minister for Labour in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
In 1979 the number of Christmas cards sent out by the Minister for Labour was 905. The cost, excluding postage, was £498. The cards were despatched as departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
404.
asked the Minister for the Public Service in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
All official greeting cards sent by me for Christmas 1979 were sent in my capacity as Minister for Labour.
As regards the Minister of State at the Department of the Public Service, the number of official Christmas cards was 100 and the cost £15. Official Christmas cards are despatched as departmental post and there is no separate postage record.
405.
asked the Minister for Education in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
In regard to (a), 850 cards were sent costing £138.50. In regard to (b), 700 cards were sent costing £216.
The cost of postage cannot be calculated as, in accordance with long-standing practice, the envelopes are franked and issued as part of the ordinary departmental post.
406.
asked the Minister for Agriculture in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
Following is the information requested:
|
Minister for Agriculture |
Minister of State (Deputy Hussey) |
||||
|
(i) |
(ii) |
(iii) |
(iv) |
(v) |
(vi) |
|
No. of cards sent |
Cost of cards |
Cost ofpostage* |
No. of Cards sent |
Cost ofcards |
Cost ofpostage* |
|
690 |
£113.50 |
£83.00 |
200 |
£8.80 |
£24.00 |
No official greeting cards were issued by Deputy Allen, Minister of State.
* As the cards were dispatched as Departmental post, there is no record of the actual cost of postage but an estimate of the cost is given at (iii) and (iv) above.
407.
asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht in respect of (a) herself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to her Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
Chuir iar-Aire na Gaeltachta 825 chárta Nollag amach agus chosain siad £252. Seoladh trí phost na Roinne iad gan aon íocaíocht ar leith a dhéanamh.
408.
asked the Minister for Health if in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
No greeting cards were sent out by me in my capacity as Minister for Health.
409.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
No greeting cards were issued by me last Christmas in my capacity as Minister for Social Welfare. There is no Minister of State attached to my Department.
One thousand, four hundred and sixteen greeting cards, costing £420, were issued by me at Christmas 1979 in my former capacity as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Defence. As the cards were dispatched as normal departmental post no separate record was kept of the cost of the postage.
410.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
The number and cost of official greeting cards sent be me at Christmas 1979 was as follows: (1) 600 cards were issued on my behalf. The purchase cost was £100. The cards were included in the Department's ordinary mail, the estimated cost of postage being £72. (2) 600 cards were issued on behalf of Deputy Brian Lenihan, former Minister for Fisheries and Forestry. The purchase cost was £95. The cards were included in the Department's ordinary mail, the estimated cost of postage being £72.
411.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
Neither I nor the Minister of State at my Department issued any official greeting cards at Christmas 1979.
412.
asked the Minister for Transport in respect of (a) himself, and (b) any Minister of State attached to his Department (i) the number of greeting cards issued last Christmas; (ii) the cost of the cards; and (iii) the cost of postage.
I was appointed Minister for Transport on 25 January 1980 and accordingly the question of my issuing Christmas cards as Minister for Transport did not arise in 1979. I understand that neither of my immediate predecessors issued Christmas cards as Minister for Tourism and Transport last year.