asked the Minister for Finance if any civil servants were paid expenses for official business trips outside the State during 1952; and, if so, the names of such officers, their business abroad and the amount involved in such cases.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Servants' Expenses.
The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available and would have to be specially assembled by the various Government Departments. Before asking Departments to take action in the matter I should be glad if the Deputy would indicate by putting a further question on the Order Paper the precisenature of the business trips he has in mind.
Surely the House is entitled to information concerning the trips of officers of the various Government Departments who travel abroad at the expense of the taxpayers of this country? The reason I put down this question was for the purpose of securing that information. When will the Minister have the information so that I can repeat the question?
As soon as the Deputy clarifies his mind sufficiently to enable him to put down a clear question on the Order Paper, I will try to give him an answer.