asked the Minister for Labour if he will give details of each visit to a foreign country undertaken since 31st March, 1974, including the overall cost of such visit and the advantage for this country arising therefrom.
Ceisteanna——Questions. Oral Answers. - Visits Abroad.
17.
In June, I visited Luxembourg for a Council of Social Affairs Ministers meeting, cost £163. In the same month, I led the Irish delegation to the International Labour Conference in Geneva, cost £265. In May, I visited Blacksburg, Virginia, USA, to open the Convention of the American Committee for Irish Studies, cost £523. In July, I was a participant in the British and Irish Association's Conference on Northern Ireland, in Oxford, cost £54.41. In October I went to Australia on an official visit at the invitation of the Australian Government, cost £1,877.
The visits to Luxembourg and Geneva arose from our membership of the EEC and the International Labour Organisation.
The visit to Blacksburg, Virginia, provided an influential forum to explain the Government's position on Northern Ireland. The Oxford visit was to represent the Government in discussions on Northern Ireland. The visit to Australia was a further step in the continuing good relations which exist between the Irish and Australian Governments. In addition, promotional work on behalf of several State agencies was undertaken.