Vol. 440 No. 7
70 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the usage of the Government jet by him and the Ministers of State at his Department and official parties in respect of St. Patrick's Day assignments; the travel arrangements where the Government jet was not used; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
72 Mr. Durkan asked the Taoiseach whether he attended St. Patrick's Day or other celebrations 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.
74 Mr. Durkan asked the Taoiseach 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.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 72 and 74 together.
I outlined extensively to the House on 22 March the details of my visit to the United States and subsequently to the Bahamas. The only St. Patrick's Day celebration I attended was in Washington. Costs arising from this visit were further set before the House on 23 March. The Government jet was used throughout the visit. My itinerary involved engagements in New York, Chicago, Washington, and Hartford in the United States and Freeport and Nassau in the Bahamas. On the occasion of the visit I was accompanied by the Secretary of my Department, the Government press secretary, the special adviser at my Department, Dr. Martin Mansergh, the head of the Anglo-Irish division of the Department of Foreign Affairs (US only) and my private secretary, all of whom had a role to play in the various engagements I had undertaken. For security reasons an officer of the Garda Síochána also travelled.
