Vol. 440 No. 7
141 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for the Environment the usage of the Government jet by him or the Ministers of State at his Department and official parties in respect of St. Patrick's Day assignments; the travel arrangements where the Government jet was not used; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
150 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment whether he attended St. Patrick's Day or other celebration overseas recently; the location which he visited; the number, rank and status of each of his entourage; the mode of transport used; the number of flights involved; the standard and location of accommodation used; the total cost to the taxpayer of the trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
152 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment the number of members of the permanent Civil Service who accompanied him on his recent trips abroad; the number, rank and status of those other than the permanent service who travelled; the reason these persons were included; the mode of transport used in each case; the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 150 and 152 together.
I refer to my reply to Question No. 53 of 23 March 1994. Scheduled airline flights were used in the course of my recent attendance, and that of the Minister of State at my Department, Deputy John Browne, at St. Patrick's Day celebrations abroad.
A total of nine flights were required as part of my visit to Australia. I was accompanied, as is normal practice on visits of this kind, by my wife and by my private secretary who is a higher executive officer in the Department. While in Australia, the party stayed in appropriate hotel accommodation in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne and there were stopovers at Singapore, outbound and Hong Kong, homeward. Full details of costs are not yet available but the total is estimated at about £23,000.
