Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
219. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount expended by her Department and by each agency for which she is responsible on advertising, promotion, advertising companies and external communications companies or consultants in 2025 and the expected costs for 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11352/26]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade uses advertising and public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services.
In 2025, the total expenditure on advertising, promotion and advertising companies was €631,903. The main campaigns during this period included:
• Passports (‘Don’t Be That Person’) - to encourage citizens to check their passports before booking travel;
• St Patrick’s Day - to promote Ireland around the world as a location to invest, visit, study and do business;
• Consular (‘Make the Right Memories’ and ‘Travel Wise’) - to reduce the number of consular incidents impacting Irish people overseas;
• St Brigid’s Day – to celebrate internationally the achievements of Irish women;
• Marriage Equality Anniversary – to highlight the 10 year anniversary of Ireland as the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage by popular vote;
• Bloomsday and Beyond – to promote Ireland as ‘The Island of Writers’ to a global audience in conjunction with Bloomsday; and,
• EU Jobs - to generate awareness and encourage third level students and graduates in Ireland to apply for jobs in the EU.
In 2025, the total expenditure on external communications companies or consultants was €3,730.
Planning is currently ongoing for advertising and promotion requirements in 2026, and the associated budget has yet to be finalised. It is anticipated that the awareness and public awareness campaigns in the year ahead will align with the categories outlined above, in addition to activities related to Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
There are no agencies under the aegis of the Department.
