Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
965. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the amount spent on food and drink by his Department; if he will provide a breakdown of what this involved; the occasions on which food and drink was provided; those present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37457/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s spending on official entertainment adheres to the policy set out in circular 25/2000; the strictest economy is observed and the expenditure on Irish public officials is incidental to that of other persons that the Department is required to host during the ordinary conduct of its business. Similarly in relation to meetings and conference costs, refreshments are generally only provided where delegations or external stakeholders are being hosted.
In 2011 expenditure on official entertainment was €5,364. The majority of this amount, €4,398, was related to the visit of a foreign delegation of 12 from the International Energy Agency involved in conducting a review of Ireland’s energy policy. The sum was spent on the provision of meeting facilities, incidentals, tea, coffee and meals for 5 full days and an official dinner. In addition to the official entertainment costs, approximately €13,800 from the Department’s budget for meetings and conferences was spent on refreshments (water, tea, coffee etc).
So far in 2012 my Department has spent €836 on official entertainment. Costs associated with providing refreshments at meetings and conferences have totalled approximately €6,494 to date. Given the large volume of meetings, conference and events and the public nature of some of these it is not possible to give a detailed breakdown of what was involved or who was present.
