Vol. 440 No. 7
106 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Social Welfare the usage of the Government jet by him or 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.
112 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare 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.
114 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare 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.
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 106, 112 and 114 together.
I represented the Government at the many St. Patrick's Day events in Savannah, Georgia, where some 18 per cent of the population is of Irish descent. The St. Patrick's Day parade in Savannah, which is the oldest parade in the US, is one of the largest, next to the New York parade and attracts over 300,000 people. I was accompanied on the visit by my wife and two permanent civil servants, my partnership programme manager and my private secretary.
The events planned around St. Patrick's Day by Irish Americans afford Government Ministers the unique opportunity to promote the benefits of investing in Ireland to top American businessmen and women. These visits are fundamentally important in showing solidarity with the 44 million strong Irish American community. They also represent an opportunity to show Ireland's appreciation of the continuing interest and support of the US in Irish affairs and this year, particularly, its support for the Joint Declaration.
My programme included several addresses to top Irish American business people and prominent Irish societies and associations. Specifically, in relation to social welfare, the visit afforded me the opportunity to promote to Irish emigrants the benefits of the bilateral agreement on social security pensions which Dáil Éireann approved and I brought into effect in September last. This agreement, which among other things allows for the payment of US pensions to returned emigrants here in Ireland, is expected to be worth some $35 million to the Irish economy annually.
The flight details for the trip are as follows:
Outbound, Transatlantic — Dublin to New York (JFK) via Aer Lingus. Internal — New York (JFK) to Raleigh-Durham to Savannah via American Airines.
