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Enterprise Ireland Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Questions (475)

Derek Nolan

Question:

475. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is assured that all overseas travel undertaken by staff in Enterprise Ireland is necessary; if the organisation ensures that there is a robust business case submitted before travel is sanctioned; if the organisation 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 company business overseas [35370/13]

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Written answers

All travel undertaken by Enterprise Ireland staff is necessary to facilitate Enterprise Ireland delivering on its mandate to support and develop indigenous industry. If the objective of the travel can be achieved in an appropriate way through other means Enterprise Ireland staff do not travel. Overseas travel is undertaken for many reasons including, to support due diligence in evaluating investments, trade missions, trade fairs and other promotions, meetings and conferences and for research and policy development purposes.

Enterprise Ireland has a clear corporate travel policy that is designed to meet the business objectives of the agency. The policy lays out clear guidelines for staff in relation to modes of transport and hotels and accommodation that may procured. The work undertaken on overseas travel feeds into the business process for which the travel was undertaken, a specific report is not prepared on each travel itinerary. The relevant Budget Manager approves travel itineraries in advance and Enterprise Ireland’s contracted travel agent will then look for the most competitive and appropriate travel options. This provides a secondary checking system as the travel agent can only procure tickets that fall within the travel policy unless approved in advance by specific exception.

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