Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2024
393. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection 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. [2651/24]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection funded the following flights for the Minister of Social Protection and advisors - accompanying the Minister in an official capacity - in 2023.
Flights to Porto, Portugal in May 2023 for the Minister to attend the EU Porto Social Forum - €719.29.
Flights to Porto, Portugal in May 2023 for the Minister's Advisor to attend the EU Porto Social Forum - €770.28.
Flights to Porto, Portugal in May 2023 for the Minister's Private Secretary to attend the EU Porto Social Forum - €770.28
Flights to Porto, Portugal from Brussels in May 2023 for the Social Affairs Attaché from the Department, who accompanied the Minister as part of the Irish delegation attending the EU Porto Social Forum - €469.82
Accommodation for the delegation was not arranged by the Department, but by the Irish embassy in Portugal.
The Porto Summit in May 2023 was a follow up to the summit held in Porto in 2021 where Member States, the European Parliament and the European Commission along with Social partners and civil society pledged to consolidate commitments made under the European Pillar of Social Rights. At the summit in 2023 Ministers and other representatives renewed commitments made in the original Porto declaration and also discussed relevant social issues such as the European Year of Skills, employment, Child Poverty and Social Inclusion.
