asked the Minister for Transport the number of foreign visits undertaken by him or his Minister of State since 14 December 1982; the purpose of each trip; the destination and duration of each visit; whether the visit was by official Government transport; the number of officials who accompanied him in each case; and the total cost, including accommodation and travel, of each trip.
Written Answers . - Ministerial Visits Abroad .
619.
: The following is the information requested by the Deputy:——
Number of Foreign Trips since 14/12/1982:
Minister, three, Minister of State, None.
Details of Foreign Visits
1. I travelled by Government jet to a one-day meeting of the EEC Council of Ministers (Transport) in Brussels on 15 December 1982. I was accompanied by four officials—two each from the Department of Transport and Department of the Environment. The total cost of my visit to the Exchequer was £120—the cost for officials was £1,219.
2. I, in my capacity as both Minister for Transport and Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, visited the United States between 26 March and 10 April 1983 for the following purposes:
(a) To inquire into developments in new telecommunications technology with particular reference to job maintenance and job creation in Ireland in this field as well as examining new developments that may be used to improve and make more cost-effective Ireland's telecommunications development programme and telephone repairs;
(b) To examine developments in satellite and cable broadcasting with a view to exploring upcoming opportunities for Ireland;
(c) To promote Aer Lingus, CIE Tours International, SFADCo, Bord Fáilte and Irish tourism in general;
(d) To visit the Boeing Aircraft Company Plant with the Aer Lingus Chief Operating Officer;
(e) To examine the affairs of the Aer Lingus-owned Dunfey Hotel chain.
I also took the opportunity of speaking to large numbers of Irish-American community and club leaders regarding the evils of violence in Ireland and the misdirecion of Irish-American funds for this purpose. I travelled by Aer Lingus to the US. I was accompanied by two officials (one from the Department of Transport and the other from the Department of Posts and Telegraphs) at meetings and functions during different parts of the trip. The total cost of my visit to the Exchequer is estimated to be approximately £1,600. The estimated cost for the accompanying officials is £2,800.
3. On 15 April 1983 I visited Holyhead for one day—on a B & I promoional trip—to address a function to publicise the first anniversary of the introduction of B & I's Dublin Port/Holyhead car ferry service and to meet local authority leaders in the vicinity of Holyhead. No official Government transport was used. The Minister was accompanied by one official from the Department of Transport. There was no cost to the Exchequer.