Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
175. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Taoiseach the cost incurred by his Department, in respect of this year’s overseas travel programme for St. Patrick’s Day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16614/13]
View answerThe St Patrick's Day period offers an unparalleled opportunity to showcase Ireland and to promote our strengths as a location for investment, trade and jobs. This year I again travelled to the United States for the St. Patrick's Day period, where I undertook a comprehensive programme of political, economic and civic engagements in New York, Washington DC, and in a range of locations on the West Coast including Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Seattle.
The Chief Whip, Deputy Paul Kehoe T.D. travelled to Australia and New Zealand, where he undertook an extensive programme of engagements, including high-level political meetings with the Prime Minister of Australia and other senior Federal and State politicians, as well as a series of speaking engagements and meetings with business groups and civic organisations in both countries.
The total costs of the visits have not yet been finalised. Outstanding invoices will be submitted in due course through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for reimbursement by my Department, and will include hotel costs, local transportation, and other miscellaneous costs.
I would point out that details of ministerial travel costs paid for by my Department are regularly published on the Department website, www.taoiseach.gov.ie. The costs paid to date by my Department in respect of the 2013 St Patrick's Day overseas travel programme are detailed in the following table.
Table 1 - St. Patrick's Day 2013
|
Cost Centre |
Flight costs |
Accommodation |
Transport |
Catering |
Official Protocol Gifts |
Incidental Costs |
|
Taoiseach and his delegation |
€ 1,151.65 * |
Not yet available |
Not yet available |
Not yet available |
€ 799.09 |
Not yet available |
|
Chief Whip and his delegation |
€ 13,635.85 |
€ 3,193.64 |
€ 254.83 |
€ 170.24 |
€ 57.62 |
€ 47.48 |
* Cost of commercial flights paid by the Department of the Taoiseach. Does not include costs associated with the Ministerial Air Transport Service, which is operated and administered by the Department of Defence.
