Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 27 Nov 1990

Vol. 403 No. 1

Written Answers. - Ministerial Entertainment Expenditure.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

41 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline (1) the allowance available for Ministerial entertainment in 1989 and 1990, (2) the amount expended in 1989 and from 1 January 1990 to 30 June 1990, (3) the number of functions involved in 1990 and (4) the nature of such functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

The amounts provided for entertainment in the years in question, in the Votes for which I have responsibility, are £13,000 for 1989 and £224,000 for 1990. Expenditure in 1989 was £7,369.41 and £78,873.03 to 30 June 1990. These figures do not distinguish between "Ministerial" and other entertainment.

The increased provision and expenditure relating to 1990 are in respect of entertainment necessarily provided in connection with our EC Presidency, in the course of which the Department of Justice were responsible for the hosting of approximately 20 meetings of EC officials and Ministers. Lunches and dinners had to be provided for delegates who attended these meetings, which in broad terms dealt with two principal areas of EC concern — (1) police co-operation to counteract international terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crime and (2) the co-ordination of measures to deal with the free movement of persons and immigration matters.