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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 2

Written Answers. - Ministerial Travel.

Ivor Callely

Question:

52 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the foreign trips undertaken by him during the period 1 January 1996 to 30 June 1996; the total number of persons who travelled on each trip; the names of these persons; and the interests each represented; and the total cost involved. [14770/96]

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 58 of 26 March 1996 giving, inter alia, details of my overseas commitments during the period 1 January 1996 to 25 March 1996.

Details of my official commitments during the period 26 March to 30 June 1996 are as set out in the table below. During this period, I participated in 15 EU meetings at ministerial level, two Anglo Irish Conference meetings, and one Western European Union Ministerial. I accompanied President Robinson on two state visits and I undertook three official visits.

Costs are recouped from the European Union where appropriate or are met by receiving Governments in the case of bilateral official visits. In so far as the recent trips are concerned, the precise costs arising to my Department for this period are not yet available.

Every effort continues to be made to keep costs of visits to a minimum consistent with the appropriate discharge of my responsibilities as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this context, the number of officials accompanying me is also kept to a minimum. A breakdown of the accompanying officials is given on the accompanying table. Normal Protocol arrangements apply in relation to the delegations for state and official visits.

Tánaiste's Travel 28 March-30 June 1996

Date

Destination

Purpose

Number accompanying including other Ministers

28-29/3/1996

Turin

European Council

Accompanying Taoiseach

9-17/4/1996

South America

Official visit to Argentina and Chile, attendance at Rio Group Meeting, Bolivia

5 DFA, 1 GIs

6-7/5/1996

Birmingham

WEU Ministerial Meeting

4 DFA

12-13/5/1996

Brussels

General Affairs Council

12.

Minister Mitchell, 9 DFA, 1 D/Taoiseach, 1 GIS

20-21/5/1996

Rome-Berlin

Troika with Ukraine/Pre Presidency Bilateral

5 DFA, 1 GIS

22/5/1996

London

Anglo Irish

13.

Minister for Justice, Minister TEC, MOS TEC, 5 DFA, 2 D/Justice, 2 D/TEC, 1 Adviser

28-29/5/1996

Rome

Troika with Russia

2 DFA, 1 GIS

6/6/1996

London

State Visit.

Accompanying President.

Anglo Irish

6 DFA, 1 D/Justice, 1 Adviser

8/6/1996

Copenhagen

Official Visit

Mrs. Spring, 4 DFA, 1 GIS

10/6/1996

Luxembourg

General Affairs Council

5 DFA, 1 GIS

12/6/1996

Washington

State Visit

Accompanying President

17/6/1996

Rome

EU Conclave

6 DFA, 1 GIS

20/6/1996

Florence

European Summit

Accompanying Taoiseach

25/6/1996

Rome-Paris

Pre Presidency Bilaterals

3 DFA, 1 GIS, 1 EU Council Secretariat

27-28/6/1996

Brussels-Luxembourg- Vienna

Pre Presidency Bilaterals

4 DFA, 1 O/Tánaiste, 1 EU Council Secretariat

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