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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Jun 1982

Vol. 336 No. 6

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US Visit by Taoiseach.

1.

asked the Taoiseach (a) the number of persons who accompanied him on or travelled to the United States in connection with his recent visit to the United Nations; (b) how many of these were civil servants; (c) which persons, other than civil servants, formed part of the entourage; (d) the total cost to the State (including travel, subsistence, entertainment and other expenses) of this entourage, with separate sub-totals for the costs attributable to the attendance of (i) civil servants and (ii) others.

Fourteen persons accompanied me on the visit. Nine were civil servants and the balance comprised the Minister for Foreign Affairs and security personnel who were members of the Garda Síochána. Final accounts for the visit have not yet been received but it is estimated that the total cost will be of the order of £45,250, of which approximately £14,950 is attributable to the nine civil servants. The balance of £30,300 covers the costs in respect of the other persons, and includes the cost of a reception which I hosted for members of the Irish-American community in the United States.

That seems fair enough. Might I just ask the Taoiseach if it really is necessary when he, or any Taoiseach for that matter, travels on an occasion like this, to be accompanied by so vast a retinue as 14 persons? Naturally, I make no complaint about security personnel and a normal range of advisers but is it really necessary to be accompanied by as many as nine civil servants?

I am inclined to agree with the Deputy. But on this occasion, it was a United Nations Disarmament Conference which was a fairly technical affair and my advisers felt that we needed this range of people there. But my own personal opinion is that perhaps it is a bit over-heavy.

Is the Taoiseach aware of newspaper reports that a number of academics were invited to accompany him on this trip but that none found the idea particularly exciting. Could he comment on whether or not that is accurate?

I have long ago learned not to deal in newspaper speculation——

Further arising out of the Taoiseach's reply.

——and I suggest to my young colleague from my constituency that he might consider accepting that advice himself.

I am grateful for the courtesy traditionally shown by the Taoiseach.

Did the Taoiseach extend any invitation to any persons other than those who accompanied him?

Yes, I discussed the possibility of other people going as outside experts but I abandoned the idea.

Could the Taoiseach give us the names and qualifications of the people to whom he considered extending invitations?

It was only at a very preliminary stage. I know that other delegations to the United Nations have a practice of having non-governmental people attached to their delegations, experts of one sort or another. I considered doing that but I abandoned the idea because, quite frankly, I knew that if I did, somebody here in this House would raise the question of the cost.

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