Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 3

Written Answers. - Ministerial Travel.

Ivor Callely

Question:

160 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the number of foreign trips made by her during 1996; the destination, purpose and duration of the trips; whether the Government jet or scheduled flights were used; the identity and designation of persons who accompanied her on each trip; the number, purpose and duration of each meeting attended by her on such trips; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25132/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

Information regarding trips undertaken up to 8 December 1996 is as stated in Parliamentary Question No. 294 which I answered on 26 March 1996, No. 165 which I answered on 10 December 1996. The Government jet was used in all cases except the following where scheduled flights were used:

26/1/96	Rome	Outward only
13/3/96-18/3/96	New York/ Boston	Outward and Return
19/3/96-20/3/96	Brussels	Outward only
5/5/96-6/5/96	Lisbon	Outward and Return
27/5/96-29/5/96	Hague/ Brussels	Return only
25/6/96-27/6/96	New York	Outward and Return
4/9/96-10/9/96	Cape Town	Outward and Return

I wish to further inform the Deputy that I have since undertaken three trips as follows:

Duration	Destination	Number of Accompanying Delegation	Purpose
9/12/96	London	Secretary, Department of Justice	Anglo-Irish Meeting
11/12/96 to 12/12/96	Luxembourg	Private Secretary	Visit to European Court of Justice
		Programme Manager
		Principal Officer
	Strasbourg	(Programme Manager returned from Luxembourg by scheduled flight)	Address to the European Parliament
16/12/96	Belfast	Assistant Secretary	All Party Talks
		Programme Manager
		Private Secretary

The Government jet was used on these occasions with the exception of one scheduled return flight from Luxembourg.

There is no significant difference between the duration of the trips abroad and the duration of the meetings which occasioned the travel.