Skip to main content
Normal View

Official Travel

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Questions (305)

Derek Nolan

Question:

305. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Finance if he is confident that all overseas travel undertaken by staff in State agencies is necessary; if the agencies ensure that there is a robust business case submitted before travel is sanctioned; if the agency ensures that the objective of the travel cannot be achieved through other means; if, on their return, the staff have to submit a report on the work carried out while they were on agency business overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36045/13]

View answer

Written answers

In response to the Deputy’s question agencies under the aegis of my Department have supplied me with the following information in regard to their policy regarding overseas travel undertaken by staff members on behalf of the agency concerned.

National Treasury Management Agency

Overseas travel by NTMA staff is an operational matter for the NTMA Chief Executive. The NTMA has business relationships with market participants across the range of its business activities and overseas travel is a necessary part of the performance of the NTMA's business functions.

Under the NTMA travel policy it is a duty of each Senior Executive to ensure that only essential travel is undertaken and that the number of persons travelling on official business is kept to a minimum, consistent with the needs of the business unit. They are required to ensure that all travel should be planned so as to reduce the total amount of travel to a minimum consistent with efficiency and that alternatives to travel, such as telephone conference calls or video conferencing be considered.

All overseas travel must be authorised in advance and the reasons for travel must be set out. Reporting on overseas business is carried out as part of the normal reporting of business activities.

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council was established on a statutory basis on the 31 December 2012 under the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012. The deputy should be aware that the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council is an independent body. The Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012 states that the Fiscal Council may regulate its own procedures and therefore matters relating to the overseas travel undertaken by that agency are a question for the Council themselves.

The Council have advised me that any staff travel undertaken is considered necessary and commensurate to business requirements. Approval is given for all travel and it is directly related to official business requirements. The Council have confirmed that travel undertaken is related to business meetings or training courses, the objective of which cannot be achieved through other means. Finally, the Council staff debrief colleagues on the work undertaken and the objectives achieved following their return.

Financial Services Ombudsman’s Bureau

Travel undertaken by staff of the Ombudsman's Office is undertaken only when required for business reasons. All potential travel is discussed with the Ombudsman before being undertaken. Individual staff representing the Bureau on business would always advise the Ombudsman of meetings attended.

Central Bank

Under the Central Bank Acts and the Statute governing the European System of Central Banks, the Central Bank is an independent institution not subject to the Minister for Finance or the Government in the discharge of its functions. The management of travel arrangements for the staff of the Bank is determined by the executive of the Board of the Bank.

Top
Share