I propose to take Question Nos. 57 and 58 together.
Photography
My Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular for major events and State occasions. This is a service which my Department provides so that the media can easily and freely avail of photography where their own staff photographers cannot be fully accommodated. Events such as the visit of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in May 2017 and those by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada in July 2017 and UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in November 2017 resulted in positive overseas media coverage of Ireland.
Through the Office of Government Procurement an updated Multi-Supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of Professional Photography and Videography is now in operation. My Department procures the services of external photographic agencies via this Framework where necessary.
In addition, my Department continues to avail of in-house resources for photography whenever possible.
In relation to photography costs for the period March 2011 to December 2016, I would refer the Deputy to the reply issued to Question No. 349 of 13 December 2016.
The cost of photography to my Department for events which took place in 2017 is listed in Table 1. A small number of invoices for photography at events held during 2017 have yet to be received. In the time available, it has not proved possible to compile a breakdown of photography costs associated with events organized by Ireland’s network of 80 diplomatic missions abroad.
Public Relations
My Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations services since March 2011. Expenditure has, however, arisen in the context of specific initiatives under Ireland’s overseas development programme for which we have from time to time commissioned companies with a public relations and communications background to provide other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management. The information requested by the Deputy in this area is set out in Table 2.
DHR Communications has been contracted to manage and administer grants to journalists reporting on international development issues under the Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF) and to manage and administer annual Africa Day celebrations.
The SCMF involves managing three funding rounds each year, including the annual SCMF student competition. This typically involves the following activities:
- Convening national and regional information workshops;
- Managing and administering the application process;
- Organising the judging process
- Providing detailed feedback to all applicants;
- Processing grant payments and keeping detailed administrative and financial records;
- Maintaining and updating the SCMF website.
It should be noted that expenses paid to third parties account for approximately 30% of the total paid to DHR for managing and administering the Simon Cumbers Media Fund. This includes costs associated with maintaining and updating the SCMF website, facilitating the judging process and raising awareness of the Fund among journalists.
Following a competitive tendering process, DHR has also been engaged to plan, manage and execute a national Africa Day flagship event in Dublin. This includes the administration of a small grants scheme for regional events which DHR managed on behalf of the Department in partnership with a number of local authorities. DHR also worked to raise public awareness of the Africa Day events, including through the use of social media and the Africa Day website. This public awareness work represented a very minor element of the overall project and was conducted in close cooperation with my Department’s communications office.
Africa Day events have been hosted by the Department in Iveagh Gardens in 2009 and 2010, in CHQ in George’s Dock in 2012 and at the Farmleigh Estate annually since 2013. In 2011, the Department supported a series of smaller-scale performances, family events, art exhibitions, debates and educational activities instead of hosting a flagship event.
In relation to the expenditure on Africa Day, expenses paid to third parties accounted for between 70% and 80% of the total costs listed below. This included expenditure on security, sanitation, venue set-up, health and safety issues and small grants to facilitate the participation of community groups.
DHR also previously provided short-term management support services for the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid, including the logistical management of the nationwide public consultation activities.
Table 1: Photography Costs - 2017
HQ Total: €39, 165.66
Mission Total: €14, 216.21
Department Total to date for 2017: €53,381.87
|
Description
|
Date
|
Cost
|
Minister
|
Photographer
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
13/12/2016
|
€351.85
|
Minister Mr. Joe McHugh,, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Photography Senator Gary Harte Iveagh House Lecture 14/12/2016
|
17/01/2017
|
575.64
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Minister Flanagan 21/12/2016
|
17/01/2017
|
292.74
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
02/03/2017
|
€351.85
|
Minister Andrew Doyle, T.D. representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Photography Minister Flanagan
|
07/03/2017
|
68.88
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Visit of Bosnian Foreign Minister
|
07/03/2017
|
516.6
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Visit of New Zealand Foreign Minister
|
07/03/2017
|
551.04
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Visit of Japanese Foreign Minister
|
07/03/2017
|
740.07
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography US Ambassador Farewell Event
|
07/03/2017
|
120.54
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography All Island Civic Dialogue Media Trip 16/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
1412.04
|
n/a
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Visit of Australia Foreign Minister 24/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
671.58
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Visit of Secretary of State for NI James Brokenshire 14/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
413.28
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Visit of UAE Foreign Minister 20/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
585.48
|
Minster Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Bundestag And Milliband Visit 23/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
878.22
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Visit of French Foreign Minister 22/02/17
|
13/03/2017
|
654.36
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Email of Jpeg for annual report 22/03/17
|
22/03/2017
|
14
|
n/a
|
Maxwells
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
07/04/2017
|
€351.85
|
Minister Catherine Byrne , T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Photography Visit of Luxembourg Foreign Minister 10/03/17
|
25/04/2017
|
1222.62
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography: Launch of Online Passport Service 30/03/17
|
25/04/2017
|
585.48
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Photography Email of Jpegs for Civic Dialogue 17/02/17
|
25/04/2017
|
189.42
|
n/a
|
Maxwells
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
27/04/2017
|
€351.85
|
Minister Damien English, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
16/05/2017
|
€351.85
|
Minister Marcella Corcoran T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Photography Visit of EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier 12/05/17
|
17/05/2017
|
1100.85
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Global Irish Civic Forum 04/05/17
|
17/05/2017
|
1168.5
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Photocall Ireland
|
|
Photography Royal Visit Kilkenny 11/05/17
|
18/05/2017
|
999.38
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Min Flan meeting Deputy PM Vietnam 24/04/17
|
23/05/2017
|
204.3
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Denis Byrne
|
|
Photography Royal Visit Farmleigh Gallery 11/05/17
|
23/05/2017
|
467.4
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Photocall Ireland
|
|
Photography GAA & Irish Abroad 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
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Chinese Visit to Iveagh House 08/06/17
|
13/06/2017
|
522.75
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography All Island Civic Dialogue Event in Letterkenny 22/05/17
|
13/06/2017
|
442.8
|
Minister Mc Hugh
|
Clive Wasson
|
|
Photography Royal Visit Dublin Friday 12/05/17
|
15/06/2017
|
1136.52
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Maxwells
|
|
Presentation Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
15/06/2017
|
€351.82
|
Minister Joe McHugh, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Photography Visit of Prince Albert of Monaco 23/06/17
|
27/06/2017
|
1014.75
|
n/a
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Joint Ireland UK Messines Commemoration 07/06/2017
|
27/06/2017
|
500
|
n/a
|
Eric Flamand
|
|
Photography Visit of Finnish Foreign Minister 03/07/17
|
06/07/2017
|
1383.75
|
Minister Coveney
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Visit of Prime Minister of Canada 3-4/07/17
|
06/07/2017
|
2736.75
|
n/a
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Passport Stats Photo 18/07/17
|
19/07/2017
|
611.85
|
Minister Coveney
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Visit of Japanese Princess Takamado 09/07/17
|
19/07/2017
|
522.75
|
Minister Flanagan
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Official Photos for Min Coveney, MoS Cannon, Ambassador O'Neil and visit of Secretary of State for NI
|
02/09/2017
|
2214
|
n/a
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
05/09/2017
|
€454.20
|
Minister Mary Mitchell-O’Connor, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Photography Visit of former President of Finland & Nobel Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari
|
06/09/2017
|
854.85
|
Minister Coveney
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
21/09/2017
|
€351.85
|
Minister John Paul Phelan,, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Photography Missile Control Conference
|
24/10/2017
|
984
|
n/a
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Reconciliation Forum 28/10/17
|
07/11/2017
|
799.5
|
n/a
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Presentation of Credentials by Diplomatic Corps
|
14/11/2017
|
€351.85
|
Minister, Ciarán Cannon, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
|
Photography Visit of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson
|
24/11/2017
|
922.5
|
Minister Coveney
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Team Ireland Conference Croke Park
|
24/11/2017
|
645.75
|
n/a
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Visit of Latvian Foreign Minister
|
24/11/2017
|
522.75
|
Minister Coveney
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Human Rights Conference
|
24/11/2017
|
522.75
|
n/a
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Future of Europe Launch event
|
24/11/2017
|
731.85
|
Taoiseach, Minister Coveney and MoS McEntee
|
Julien Behal
|
|
Photography Brexit Media trip
|
24/11/2017
|
2829
|
n/a
|
Julien Behal
|
|
New Years’ Greetings by the President for the Diplomatic Corps
|
|
€1,064.80
|
Minister Helen McEntee, T.D., representing the Government
|
Maxwell Photography
|
Table 2
This table sets out the payments for project and event management since 2011:
Payments for Project and Event Management 2011 to 2017
|
Name of Project/Event
|
2011
|
2012
|
2013
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017 (to date)
|
|
DHR Communications: SCMF
|
€73,237
|
€47,430
|
€73,836
|
€60,338
|
€83,757
|
€145,278
|
€108,026
|
|
DHR Communications: White Paper Review
|
€25,000
|
€26,026
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
|
DHR Communications: Africa Day
|
€6,806
|
€90,851
|
€118,644
|
€143,829
|
€179,221
|
€206,126
|
€189,041
|
|
Total
|
€105,043
|
€164,307
|
€192,480
|
€204,167
|
€262,978
|
€351,404
|
€297,067
|
