Vol. 428 No. 1
127 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the countries recently visited by him in connection with St. Patrick's Day celebrations; the countries visited by the Minister of State in his Department; the composition of the official party; and the total cost to the Exchequer in each case.
The Taoiseach provided to the House on 9 March 1993 a schedule listing the St. Patrick's Day functions abroad attended by Cabinet members and Ministers of State.
The cost of attendance abroad by Cabinet members and Ministers of State is charged to the votes of individual Departments concerned.
Neither myself nor the Minister of State in my Department travelled outside Ireland for St. Patrick's Day events this year.
No cost benefit analysis has been done to assess investment, trade or tourism benefits in relation to Government representation at St. Patrick's Day celebrations overseas. I do not propose to commission such an analysis.
