Credit Cards.

Tuesday, 1 February 2005

Questions (93)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

91 Mr. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the number of credit cards issued for departmental use to Ministers, Ministers of State or others; the person or persons authorised to use such cards; the circumstances in which use is permissible; the number of occasions on which they have been used in the life of the present Government; the purpose of such use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2404/05]

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Written answers

The Taoiseach

In addition to my departmental credit card, there are currently 21 credit cards issued for this Department. Details of authorised users are as follows:

Name	Position
Tom Kitt	Minister of State
Dermot McCarthy	Secretary General
Michael Collins	Second Secretary
David Feeney	Private Secretary to the Taoiseach
Una Claffey	Special Adviser
Gerry Howlin	Special Adviser
Joe Lennon	Special Adviser
Katherine Bulbulia	Special Adviser
Iarla Mongey	Head of Gov. Information Services
Peter Ryan	Assistant Secretary
Philip Kelly	Assistant Secretary
Mary Doyle	Assistant Secretary
Eoin O’Leary	Assistant Secretary
Martin Fraser	Principal Officer, Economic & Social Policy Division
George Shaw	Principal Officer, Economic & Social Policy Division
Aileen Healy	Finance Officer
Miriam Dollard	Personnel Officer
Mary Murphy	Personnel Officer
Geraldine Byrne-Nason	Director, National Forum on Europe
Brendan Ward	NESDO
Agnes Aylward	Ireland Newfoundland Partnership

It is the policy of the Department that departmental credit cards may only be used for official purposes. This can include charges for items such as travel, accommodation and entertainment expenses incurred while travelling on behalf of the Department and for the purpose of booking conferences or training courses.

It is the experience of the Department that most departmental credit cards are generally used on average three to four times per month — per card — although this will vary. For instance, a card may be used more in a particular month when the user travels on official business and not at all in other months.