Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
320. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide a schedule of official flights and costs of same taken by her in 2023; if a schedule will be provided of all hotels she stayed in in 2023, including hotel name and cost per night while on official State business; and if the same information will be provided in respect of all accompanying staff and advisors. [2653/24]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is provided for onmy Department's website www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/e9c55-ministerial-expenses/ The expenses are in full conformity with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidance on such matters. All such expenditure relates exclusively to official business on behalf of my Department or the Government.
Personal expenses incurred by accompanying officials are claimed by the individual officers in accordance with applicable Civil Service procedures. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of all accompanying staff and advisors including details related to flights and accommodation costs charged directly to the Department these are set out in the table below.
|
Dates |
Hotel |
Number of accompanying staff and advisors |
Nights |
Total Flight Costs for accompanying parties € |
Accommodation Costs for accompanying parties per person per night € |
|
8-9 & 11-16 March 2023 |
Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles |
3 |
7 |
6,293 |
279 |
|
10-11 March 2023 |
The Guild Hotel, San Diego |
3 |
1 |
- |
327 |
|
22-24 September 2023 |
Hotel Montfleuri, Paris |
3 |
2 |
4,390 |
340* |
|
28 September - 2 October 2023 |
Cavalleri Hotel, Rome |
4 |
4 |
3,767 |
- |
|
19-22 November 2023 |
Fitzpatrick's Hotel, Manhatten, New York |
3 |
3 |
2,616 |
125* |
*Hotel cost per night for this trip is based on an estimate provided by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) as the final bill has not yet been received from DFA.
All flights were booked in accordance with Government Guidelines. My Department makes an annual payment to the Climate Action Fund scheme, administered by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to offset emissions for travel on commercial flights, in accordance with Circular 01/2020 (D/PER).
