Limerick East): An official from my Department attended an international drugs conference in Sweden between 10 and 13 June 1996. The official arrived for the conference at approximately 9.30 p.m. (local time) on Sunday, 9 June, 1996. The official departed from the conference on Tuesday, 11 June, 1996 at 5.15 p.m. (local time) and left Sweden at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, 12 June, which was when the first convenient flight was available. The official arrived back in Dublin at 3.45 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 June. The cost, which was paid by my Department, of sending the official to the conference was £1,502.72. This covered travel and subsistence costs, including hotel accommodation, and the cost of registration for the conference.
The conference, which was of 3.5 days duration, dealt with drug issues on research, prevention/treatment, and organised crime. The sessions on Monday, 10 June and Tuesday, 11 June dealt with research and prevention/treatment which are issues relating to my Department's brief on drugs. The official did not remain at the conference for the sessions on Wednesday and Thursday as these dealt with crime prevention which is a matter for the Department of Justice and the Garda.
