Vol. 440 No. 7
121 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Justice the usage of the Government jet by her or the Minister of State at her Department and official parties in respect of St. Patrick's Day assignments; the travel arrangements where the Government jet was not used; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
126 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice whether she attended St. Patrick's Day or other celebrations overseas recently; the location which she visited; the number, rank and status of each of her 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 she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 126 together.
As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 50 from Deputy Yates on 23 March 1994, I travelled to Texas, Florida and Louisiana for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. I took the opportunity during my visit to meet with business and official representatives mostly in relation to justice-related matters, primarily in the prisons and custodial areas, and to visit a number of penal institutions.
I flew on the Government jet on the outward journey from Baldonnel to Houston on 10 March 1994. Thereafter, I did not avail of the Government jet and I made use of scheduled flights to travel between the cities of Houston, Orlando and New Orleans and for the return journey to Ireland on 19 March 1994.
I was accompanied on the trip by my husband, the secretary of my Department, my Department's partnership programme manager, my private secretary and a member of the Garda team responsible for my personal security arrangements. A principal officer from my Department's prisons division joined the group on 16 March 1994. The group was accommodated in hotels in each of the cities mentioned. The cost of the visit, excluding the cost of the Government jet, is estimated by my Department to be approximately £19,000.
