Vol. 445 No. 6
349 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the official journeys abroad which will be undertaken by him or any Minister of State attached to his Department between now and the end of the year; the purpose of each journey; and the projected cost of each journey. [625/94]
350 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the number of official trips abroad he has made since he took office; the number of persons that accompanied him on each of these trips; and the cost of the various trips. [772/94]
354 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the date of each visit to and the number of occasions that he has visited Northern Ireland and the United States of America to promote tourism. [825/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 349, 350 and 354 together.
Details of my official trips abroad since I have taken office as Minister for Tourism and Trade are set out in tabular form at Appendix 1.
I have made two visits to Northern Ireland and five visits to the United States of America to promote tourism. Details of these trips are outlined at Nos. 2, 5, 9, 30, 31, 36 and 39 of the tabular statement at Appendix 1.
It is not feasible at this stage to project accurately the number of trips abroad which I will undertake between now and the end of the year. I am, however, planning to make the trips as outlined at Appendix 2. The cost of these trips, with the exception of the Luxembourg trip, which is partly refundable by the EU, will be shared with the semi-State bodies under the aegis of the Department. Therefore, the projected costs of the trips cannot be accurately estimated at the present time.
