asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the purpose for which he visited Switzerland and other European countries during the month of October, the names and official appointments of those who accompanied him, the total cost of the trip and the improvements, if any, which he proposes to put into effect in his Department as a result.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Minister's Visit to European Countries.
The purposes of the visit, which lasted some two and a half weeks, was to obtain first-hand information as to policy and working methods in typical postal, telegraph, telephone and radio administrations outside this country.
I was accompanied by Mr. J.A. Scannell, assistant secretary, and Mr. S. Ó Droma, principal in charge of the telephones branch.
The expenditure covered travelling, cost of appropriate hotel rooms, subsistence at standard rates prescribed by the Department of Finance and a sum not exceeding £100 for hospitality to persons in the countries visited. And at this point I should like to acknowledge publicly the co-operation so readily given to us by the Ministers and officials of all the foreign administrations; without exception, they spared no trouble in providing us with information on points of detail and in showing us the working of their various services.
Final accounts have not yet been subjected to accounting check so I am unable to state the total figure of cost.
A number of proposals for improvement in administration and working method, which have been formulated as a result of observations made during the visit, are now in course of examination or will shortly be examined. At this stage, I am not, as the Deputy will realise, in a position to say what will be the outcome.
When he was in Switzerland, did he see a method of employment similar to that indicated here by Deputy Hession as appertaining in County Galway where Party officers are appointed to Post Office positions?
That is an entirely different question.
It has no bearing on the question at all.