Jim O'Keeffe
Question:11 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence the basis on which it is proposed to more than double the expenses for military entertainment to ?440,000 in 2003. [13062/03]
Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.
The increased funding has been provided mainly to meet additional costs expected to arise in the following areas: meetings and visits relating to the EU Presidency and from our membership of PfP; and hosting an Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe conference.
Other areas of expenditure on official military entertainment include visits by foreign Naval vessels to Irish ports, foreign visits by Irish Naval vessels, commissioning ceremonies, wings ceremonies, passing out parades, expenses incurred in entertainment for Saint Patrick's Day by Irish personnel serving overseas and allowances for official entertainment held by certain military appointment holders.