Vol. 457 No. 5
56 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the costs which have been paid out for flights, hotel reservations and other costs incurred to date by his Department in respect of proposed participants at meetings and conferences, where such participants did not avail of the arranged bookings; if he will give a breakdown in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15793/95]
Since the Government took office there has only been one occasion in so far as my Department is concerned when it was necessary to alter the travel arrangements of proposed participants at meetings and conferences, subsequent to bookings having been made. It occurred in the context of the UN Fourth World conference on Women in Beijing. I was required to return to Dublin on a date earlier than originally arranged because of urgent Government business. It was also necessary for one of my officials to return early from Beijing on that occasion.
To date, my Department has not been fully invoiced in respect of all the costs associated with attendance at that conference. However, I will communicate directly with the Deputy in the matter when all of the relevant invoices have been received in my Department. I do not anticipate that any additional costs will have been incurred as a result of these revised arrangements.
