asked the Minister for Transport and Power if members of the Board of CIE are obliged to use CIE transport, if available, whenever they make an official tour of inspection of the property and services of CIE or its subsidiary companies; and, if not, if he will give directions to this effect.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Transport of CIE Board Members.
6.
The conditions of appointment of the members of the Board of CIE provide that in respect of journeys reasonably and necessarily undertaken by them as members of the Board they will be entitled to travelling expenses and subsistence allowances at the rates appropriate to civil servants of the highest grade.
The board members have complete discretion as to the method of travel which they use but they may be paid travelling expenses only at the rates specified. CIE services are availed of as appropriate. I do not propose to issue any directions in the matter.
In view of the fact that CIE are "in the red" does the Minister think that it is fit and proper that the chairman, Mr. Frank Lemass, and members of the board, should on a visit to hotels throughout the country travel by helicopter?
The Deputy is wrongly advised. The chairman recently inspected a hotel at Mulranny and availed of an offer to travel to Sligo by helicopter. There was no charge for this.
(Interruptions.)
Perhaps the Deputy would listen to me. The time of these part-time directors is valuable and if they can avail of rail services they do so but there is no service from Sligo to Bundoran and they would have to take a car there and back. It has been my experience that the directors use the railways whenever it is reasonably possible to do so but as the company are operating hotels throughout the country at places including Parknasilla and Kenmare obviously it is impossible always to use the railways.
Will the Minister explain why "CIE" was painted on the side of this helicopter which landed in Eyre Square in Galway and on what authority it was landed on public property without permission?
(Interruptions.)
Nothing was paid for the use of this helicopter.
(Cavan): Can the Minister say who owned the helicopter?
I do not know. I am not concerned with who owned it. It was privately owned and no moneys were paid for it.
Question No. 7.
Will the Minister ensure that whenever there is an unfortunate patient to be brought to hospital that these private planes——
That is an entirely separate question.