The Department of Foreign Affairs only supplies briefcases to staff of assistant secretary grade or above at headquarters. Departmental practice currently allows expenditure of up to a maximum of €100 on any one briefcase. As an indication of the level of expenditure involved, the Department purchased briefcases for two members of staff at headquarters, at a cost of €80.72 each, in the period from 1 January 2004 to-date. No refunds were made to officers who purchased their own briefcases in that period.
As these items come under the general heading of small office equipment, it should be noted that missions abroad, which have their own budgets, may, from time to time, purchase briefcases for senior diplomatic staff without reference to headquarters. It is not practicable, in the time available, to provide details, in respect of every mission, of expenditure that might have been incurred on these items.