I wish to advise the Deputy that in the time available, it has only proved possible to provide the information requested for the period January 2015 to June 2017.
Photography
My Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular for major events and State occasions. My Department would, for example, have hired an official photographer to document the visit earlier this year of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, which received positive overseas coverage.
In September 2011, my Department led a collaborative advertised tender process for the procurement of a multi-supplier competitive framework of photographic service providers. This framework was for use by all Government Departments. The purpose of the framework was to ensure Departments’ compliance with EU procurement rules and to ensure value for money by having a competitive process for photographic assignments.
The Office of Government Procurement is currently leading on the creation of a new Multi Supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of Professional Photography and Videography services and my Department has inputted into this process.
In addition, my Department now makes greater use of in-house resources for photography.
The photography costs associated with particular events in 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017 are listed in tables 1-3.
Public Relations
My Department has not engaged outside public relations companies for the purposes of public relations advice.
My Department has from time to time commissioned companies with a public relations and communications background but this has been for the provision of other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management, particularly in relation to Irish Aid public outreach activities.
Public Relations Training
The Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) has been engaged to provide training to staff from my Department’s Communications Unit on dealing with media representatives and communicating the Department’s key messages effectively.
Separately, other senior Department staff members have also received training on communicating in crisis situations, which is fundamental in ensuring that the Department serves Irish citizens at home and abroad during consular emergencies overseas involving Irish citizens. The relevant payments made in the past two years and to date in 2017 are listed in table 4.
Advertising
My Department pays for advertising where it is considered necessary to bring important information, such as job notices, to public attention. Our reliance on this type of advertising has decreased year-on-year due in part to our improved use of free social media channels.
In addition, Ireland’s diplomatic missions abroad may undertake advertising with regard to a range of miscellaneous local matters. The costs incurred under this heading are relatively small and it was not possible to gather and compile the data requested by the Deputy in the time available.
Recently my Department conducted two major public information campaigns to raise awareness of important initiatives we have rolled out – the TravelWise smartphone app, launched in June 2016, and Online Passport Renewals, launched in April 2017.
The TravelWise smartphone app makes all of the Department’s travel advice available to citizens offline and in their pockets as well as being a valuable messaging tool for use by our Consular Service during a crisis situation overseas. My Department advertised the TravelWise app widely to ensure a good uptake of this valuable service by our citizens.
Online adult passport renewals are a key part of the Passport Reform Programme and my Department advertised the new service widely in order to ensure a good uptake by citizens of another innovative service. As this campaign remains ongoing and relevant invoices have yet to be received, data on this expenditure is not yet available.
Advertising costs for 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017 are listed in table 5.
Website Development
The costs listed in table 6 refer to both maintenance and development of the Department’s 84 websites (including www.dfa.ie, www.irishaid.ie, www.globalirish.ie and the websites of Ireland’s 80 diplomatic missions abroad).
The Department’s websites are used to publish valuable information for citizens, including on passports and citizenship, updates on the work of the Department and its Ministers and Government travel advisories for over 200 countries abroad. The Department’s websites receive in excess of 27 million page views per year.
Citizens can also use my Department’s websites to directly access services including Passport Tracking, the Citizen Registration facility and Foreign Birth Registration and innovative new services such as Online Passport Renewals.
Our current focus in this area is to deliver fully responsive websites that enable us to better service the growing proportion of citizens who access the internet through mobile devices.
Table 1. Photography Costs 2015
|
Description
|
Date
|
Cost (€)
|
Minister
|
Photographer
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: ST. PATRICK’S DAY PROGRAMME LAUNCH WITH MINISTER BRUTON AT DING
|
10/03/2015
|
137.62
|
Minister Flanagan and Minister Bruton
|
Fennel Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: MOS DEENIHAN AND SONYA OSULLIVAN
|
15/05/2015
|
172.20
|
MoS Deenihan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRPAHY: IVEAGH HOUSE LECTURE BY GOVENER OF BANK OF ENGLAND MARK CARNEY
|
12/02/2015
|
206.64
|
Minister Flanagan, Minister Noonan and Minister Howlin
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Global Irish Economic Forum 2015 - Derry
|
|
213.00
|
n/a
|
Inpresspics
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: MINISTER FLANAGAN MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF ORANGE ORDER
|
17/08/2015
|
241.08
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: Irish Aid Fellowship training programme
|
14/04/2015
|
246.00
|
Minister of State Sean Sherlock, T.D.
|
Liam Burke, Press 22
|
|
PHOTOGRPAHY: ANNOUNCMENT OF PASSPORT CARD BY MINISTER FLANAGAN
|
12/02/2015
|
258.30
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: Global Irish Economic Forum 2015 - Galway
|
|
326.00
|
n/a
|
Aengus McMahon Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: IVEAGH HOUSE SCHOLARS AND MINISTER FLANAGAN
|
15/05/2015
|
327.18
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: LUNCH IN HONOR OF DR HERREMA
|
11/11/2015
|
344.40
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAUNCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE OECD REPORT BY MIN FLANAGAN AND MOS SHERLOCK 02/12/2014
|
12/01/2015
|
361.62
|
Minister Flanagan & MoS Sherlock
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: IVEAGH HOUSE LECTURE BY SECRETARY GENERAL OF OECD ANGEL GURRIA 15/9/15
|
13/10/2015
|
373.92
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: IVEAGH HOUSE LECTURE BY NOTRE DAME PROFESSOR ON US CIVIL WAR
|
14/07/2015
|
378.84
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: IVEAGH SCHOLARS PROGRAMME LAUNCH FOR 2016 17/09/2015
|
13/10/2015
|
464.94
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: IVEAGH HOUSE LECTURE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BANK DR JIM YOUNG KIM
|
14/07/2015
|
482.16
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAUNCH OF PASSPORT CARD BY MINISTER FLANAGAN
|
11/11/2015
|
516.60
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: Global Irish Parliamentarian Forum
|
|
526.00
|
Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: IRELAND 2016 DIASPORA PROGRAMME LAUNCH
|
14/07/2015
|
533.82
|
Minister Flanagan, Minister Humphries, MoS Deenihan, MoS O'Riordan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: IVEAGH HOUSE LECTURE ON ANGLO IRISH AGREEMENT 30TH ANNIVERSARY
|
10/12/2015
|
575.64
|
An Taoiseach and Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: 2015 IRISH AID ANNUAL REPORT LAUNCH
|
17/08/2015
|
654.36
|
Minister Flanagan & MoS Sherlock
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: PRESIDENTIAL DISTIGUSIHED SERVICE AWARDS 2015
|
16/12/2015
|
731.85
|
An Taoiseach, President Higgins, Minister Flanagan and MoS Deenihan
|
Lensmen Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: MINISTER FLANAGAN VISIT TO WASHINGTON DC Marty Katz Photography Min visit DC 30/9/15
|
08/10/2015
|
736.41
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Marty Katz Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: IVEAGH HOUSE CHRISTMAS TRUCE LECTURE BY FORMER PRESIDENT MARY MCALEESE 16/12/2014
|
12/01/2015
|
895.44
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: VISIT OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI MOON
|
12/06/2015
|
998.76
|
Multiple Ministers
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: GLOBAL IRISH CIVIC FORUM
|
14/07/2015
|
1069.98
|
President Higgins, Minister Flanagan and MoS Deenihan
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRPAHY: 2015 GLOBAL IRISH ECONOMIC FORUM
|
01/12/2015
|
1845.00
|
Multiple Ministers
|
Lensmen Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: GLOBAL ISLAND HEAD OF MISSION CONFERENCE 12-14 JAN 2015
|
24/02/2015
|
2043.00
|
Multiple Ministers
|
Lensmen Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRPAHY: VISIT OF PRINCE CHARLES AND DUCHESS OF CORNWALL
|
29/07/2015
|
2662.95
|
Multiple Ministers
|
Fennel Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: STATE VISIT BY THE PRESIDENT OF GERMANY
|
22/07/2015
|
2773.65
|
President, An Taoiseach, Ceann Comhairle, Cathaoirleach, Minister Flanagan, MoS Harris and MoS Hayes
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
New Years’ Greetings by the President for the Diplomatic Corps
|
16/01/2015
|
802.55
|
Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
20/01/2016
|
351.85
|
Mr. Seán Sherlock, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
21/01/2016
|
351.85
|
Mr. Dara Murphy, T.D., representing
the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
17/02/2016
|
351.85
|
Mr. Damien English, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
25/03/2016
|
351.85
|
Mr. Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
30/04/2016
|
351.85
|
Mr. Tom Hayes, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
27/05/2016
|
351.82
|
Mr. Simon Harris, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
25/06/2016
|
351.85
|
Mr. Damien English, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
23/09/2016
|
351.85
|
Mr. Joe McHugh, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
05/11/2016
|
351.85
|
Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
18/11/2015
|
351.85
|
Mr. Joe McHugh, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
BT Young Scientist Award
|
09/01/2015
|
482.16
|
MoS Sean Sherlock
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Total
|
|
25,900.54
|
|
|
Table 2. Photography Costs 2016
|
Description
|
Date of Invoice
|
Cost (€)
|
Minister
|
Photographer
|
|
Photography: TRI LATERAL MEETING WITH SOSNI, NI EXC
|
18/01/2016
|
568.26
|
Minster Flanagan and Minister Fitzgerald
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
PHOTOGRAPHY: COMMEMORATIONS EVENT MOS DEENIHAN in Iveagh House
|
21/01/2016
|
676.50
|
MoS Deenihan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography: UN60 SYMPOSIUM IN IVEAGH HOUSE with Mary Robinson, Kofi Annan and Peter Sutherland
|
18/01/2016
|
895.44
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
JAMES HIGGINS PHOTOS JANUARY 7 2016
|
08/02/2016
|
457.88
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
4 JPEGS OF IRISH AID AWARDS 16/06/15
|
18/01/2016
|
68.88
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Networking event - Minister Flanagan
|
16/02/2016
|
551.04
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Maxwell Photography- BT Young Scientist
|
16/02/2016
|
671.58
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography for Minister Flanagan Reception
|
14/04/2016
|
691.26
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography for US Delegation 24/03/2016
|
14/04/2016
|
912.66
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Good Friday Agreement/Abbey Theatre 10/04/16
|
17/05/2016
|
1627.91
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
jpegs Min Flanagan Reception 26/03/16
|
17/05/2016
|
51.66
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography at Grangegorman Cemetery 26/05/16
|
17/06/2016
|
947.10
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Euros Safety leaflet launch 27/05/16
|
17/06/2016
|
843.78
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Photography
|
|
Min Flanagan photo new cabinet 06/05/2016
|
17/06/2016
|
17.22
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Prince Of Wales Visit 25/05/16
|
23/06/2016
|
1421.74
|
Minister Mc Hugh
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography For Travelwise app Launch
|
14/07/2016
|
551.04
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography For VP Biden Visit June 2016
|
14/07/2016
|
1412.04
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography for Italian Foreign Minister Visit
|
24/08/2016
|
964.32
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography for Dutch Foreign Minister Visit 31/08/16
|
26/09/2016
|
757.68
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography for UN USG Herve Ladsous
|
14/10/2016
|
258.30
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Northern Ireland Sec Visit
|
14/10/2016
|
499.38
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography for UN Youth Delegates
|
14/10/2016
|
206.64
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography for SoS David Davis Visit
|
14/10/2016
|
516.60
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Total
|
|
15,568.91
|
|
|
Table 3. Photography Costs 2017 to date
|
Description
|
Date of Invoice
|
Cost (€)
|
Minister
|
Photographer
|
|
Photography Senator Gary Harte Lecture 14/12/2016
|
17/01/2017
|
575.64
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Minister Flanagan 21/12/2016
|
17/01/2017
|
292.74
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Minister Flanagan email jpegs
|
07/03/2017
|
68.88
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Bosnian Foreign Minister
|
07/03/2017
|
516.60
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography New Zealand Foreign Minister
|
07/03/2017
|
551.04
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Japanese Foreign Minister
|
07/03/2017
|
740.07
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography American Ambassador Farewell
|
07/03/2017
|
120.54
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography All Island Civic Dialogue Media Trip 16/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
1,412.04
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Australia Foreign Minister 24/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
671.58
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography SoS James Brokenshire Visit 14/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
413.28
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography UAE Foreign Minister 20/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
585.48
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Bundestag And Milliband Visit 23/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
878.22
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography French Foreign Minister Visit 22/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
654.36
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Email of Jpeg for Annual Report 22/03/17
|
22/03/2017
|
14.00
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Luxembourg Foreign Minister 10/03/17
|
25/04/2017
|
1,222.62
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Launch of Online Passport Service 30/03/17
|
25/04/2017
|
585.48
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Email of Jpegs for Civic Dialogue 17/02/17
|
25/04/2017
|
189.42
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Michel Barnier Border Visit 12/05/17
|
17/05/2017
|
1,100.85
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Global Irish Civic Forum 04/05/17
|
17/05/2017
|
1,168.50
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Photocall Ireland
|
|
Photography Royal Visit Kilkenny 11/05/17
|
18/05/2017
|
999.38
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Min Flan meeting Deputy PM Vietnam 24/04/17
|
23/05/2017
|
204.30
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Denis Byrne
|
|
Photography Royal Visit Farmleigh Gallery 11/05/17
|
23/05/2017
|
467.40
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Photocall Ireland
|
|
Photography Global Games Launch 24/05/17
|
09/06/2017
|
522.75
|
Minister Mc Hugh
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Visit of Danish Foreign Minister 02/06/17
|
13/06/2017
|
977.85
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Chinese Visit to Iveagh House 08/06/17
|
13/06/2017
|
522.75
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Royal Visit Dublin Friday 12/05/17
|
15/06/2017
|
1,136.52
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
Photography
|
|
Photography Brexit Conference in Letterkenny 22/05/17
|
13/06/2017
|
442.80
|
Minister Mc Hugh
|
Clive Wasson
|
|
Photography Visit of Prince Albert of Monaco 23/06/17
|
27/06/2017
|
1,014.75
|
n/a
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Joint Ireland UK Messines Commemoration 07/06/2017
|
27/06/2017
|
500.00
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Eric Flamand
|
|
Total
|
|
18,549.84
|
|
|
Table 4. Public Relations Training Costs
|
Name of Project/Event
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017 (to date)
|
|
Public Relations Institute of Ireland:Certificate for Civil Service Press Officers course
|
€5,670
|
€3,780
|
No relevant payments
|
|
Communications Clinic:Crisis Communications training
|
No relevant payments
|
€1,968
|
No relevant payments
|
|
Total
|
€5,670
|
€5,748
|
€0
|
Table 5. Advertising Costs
|
Description
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017(to date)
|
|
Iris Oifiguil
|
€410.00
|
NIL
|
305.00
|
|
Golden Pages
|
€6,191.82
|
€5,881.86
|
5,571.90
|
|
Media Vest
|
€23,877.06
|
€12,039.67
|
NIL
|
|
TravelWise App media Plan
|
NIL
|
€27,606
|
NIL
|
|
Total
|
30,478.88
|
45,527.53
|
5,876.90
|
Table 6. Website Development Costs
|
Supplier
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
|
Clear Ocean Internet Solutions
|
14,760
|
|
|
|
Action Point Innovation Ltd.
|
|
67,785
|
|
|
Terminal Four Solutions Ltd.
|
21,049
|
32,539
|
57,305
|
|
TOTAL
|
35,809
|
100,324
|
57,305
|
