I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 141 and 144 together.
As regards the total additional cost of the Presidency to my Department, a total of £500,000 has been provided for under subhead A9 of the 1996 estimates for the Office of the Minister for Finance. A detailed breakdown is not available at this stage. The major items of expense include the hosting of the informal ECOFIN Council of Minister in Dublin, the hosting in Ireland and abroad of other meetings and events associated with the Presidency, increased levels of travel by me and the officials of my Department, and additional staff costs arising. No bulletins, pamphlets, newsletters or circulars have been issued by my Department in connection with the Presidency.
My programme of visits as Chairman of the ECOFIN Council of Ministers between now and 31 December 1996 is as follows: