The cost of photography in my Department in each year since 1997 is as set out in the tables. Table A covers the total cost of all official photography charged to my Department. Table B relates to photography costs that are directly connected to Ministers in my Department. Since 2004 the costs for all photography connected with State events involving visiting foreign dignitaries have been charged to my Department. This includes all incoming State, official and working visits, as well as international events organised by my Department. As will be seen, there was a significant additional spend in 2004, directly as a result of our EU Presidency commitments, and 2006 saw a higher than average number of inward State and official visits. The figures in table B relate in the main to photographs of Ministers meeting senior figures such as visiting Foreign Ministers and other foreign dignitaries, both at home and abroad.
Table A
Year
|
€
|
1997
|
4,237.70
|
1998
|
3,633.34
|
1999
|
5,433.23
|
2000
|
7,425.90
|
2001
|
11,517.24
|
2002
|
18,509.35
|
2003
|
9,503.71
|
2004
|
44,342.54
|
2005
|
29,306.70
|
2006
|
84,263.13
|
2007
|
53,955.45
|
Total
|
272,127.63
|
Table B
Year
|
€
|
1997
|
4,237.70
|
1998
|
3,633.34
|
1999
|
5,433.23
|
2000
|
7,425.90
|
2001
|
11,517.24
|
2002
|
18,509.35
|
2003
|
9,503.71
|
2004
|
23,256.17
|
2005
|
10,399.35
|
2006
|
20,015.92
|
2007
|
16,461.87
|
Total
|
130,393.78
|
All Departments are obliged to put contracts to tender, by EU rules, if its value is estimated to be over €25,000. The contract for photography was first put out to tender in 2003 and this process was repeated in 2005.