Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Questions (589)

Dara Calleary

Question:

589. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail in tabular form the total cost of providing entertainment for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the occasions for which entertainment was provided; the entertainers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion; if there is a policy regarding the booking of entertainers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37448/12]

Written answers

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

The total amount spent on providing entertainment by my Department since taking up office in March 2011 is €18,749.98. There have been no payments in respect of ministerial allowance by my Department in the period.

Expenditure on official entertainment in my Department is normally confined to business lunches and dinners, for example where it is appropriate and necessary to host senior-level foreign officials. The number of civil servants attending official functions should be kept to a minimum. With the exception of Ministerial functions, entertainment is subject to the prior approval of an Assistant Secretary.

Details of the expenditure on entertainment are provided in the following table.

-	Occasion	Attendees	Cost
Evening Reception at Langton House Hotel, Kilkenny.	The Patent Office hosted the EPO Patent Conference 2011 in Kilkenny from 18 – 20 October 2011. As part of this event a reception was held at Langton House Hotel to demonstrate local cuisine and traditional Irish entertainment.	300 delegates.	€18,749.98