Vol. 440 No. 7
228 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade whether he attended St. Patrick's Day or other celebration overseas recently; the location which he visited; the number, rank and status of each of his entourage; the mode of transport used; the number of flights involved; the standard and location of accommodation used; the total cost to the taxpayer of the trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I did not represent the Government at any St. Patrick's Day or other celebration overseas recently.
I participated in Bord Fáilte and Bord Tráchtála promotions in England around the St. Patrick's Day period, the costs of which will be met, as is the norm, by the agencies concerned.
230 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the number of members of the permanent Civil Service who accompanied him on his recent trips abroad; the number, rank and status of those other than the permanent service who travelled; the reason these persons were included; the mode of transport used in each case; the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Since the start of this year I have made three trips abroad to Germany, the UK and the USA. I was accompanied on these trips by permanent civil servants only. The details requested by the Deputy as follow:
—Germany: I was accompanied by three civil servants. We travelled by commercial flight.
—UK: I was accompanied by one civil servant. We travelled by commercial flight.
—USA: I was accompanied by two civil servants. We travelled by commercial flight.
The costs to my Department of the above trips are in the region of £9,700.
