Official Travel

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 January 2011

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Ceisteanna (300, 301, 302, 303)

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

348 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will provide details of any foreign trips made by her in the year 2010 and to date in 2011; the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the exact mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel and the nature of the entertainment for which the expenses were incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2683/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

I refer the Deputy to the publication of the details of foreign trips undertaken by me in the course of my official duties, which is regularly updated on my Department's website at http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie/publications/list_dept_publications.html. The most up to date details available of my official travel are contained therein. To ensure accuracy, details are put on the website as and when the relevant bills are paid.

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

349 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will provide details of any foreign trips made by officials in her Department in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel; the nature of the entertainment for which expenses were incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2698/11]

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

It will take some time and resources to disaggregate the details of the cost of travel and subsistence for foreign trips undertaken by my officials in the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 to date. However I have arranged for this information to be collated and sent to the Deputy as soon as possible. I wish to point out that all expenses paid to staff of my Department are in accordance with the Department of Finance circulars governing travel and subsistence.

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

350 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will provide details of hotel accommodation used by her within the State while on ministerial duties in the year 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the name of each hotel in which she stayed; the costs associated with each stay and the purpose of each trip; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2728/11]

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

The details of hotel accommodation used by me within the State while on Ministerial duties since I took up office in the Department in March, 2010 are set out in tabular form as follows.

Date	Hotel	Nights	Cost	Purpose
			€
20/5/10	Killarney Park Hotel, Killarney	1	85	Address Killarney Chamber of Tourism & Commerce
				Visit Killarney Golf & Country Club
				Launch 2010 Kerry Tourism Marketing Campaign
				Visit Department Offices
6/7/10	Clarion Hotel, Limerick	1	89	Attend Pro-Am Golf Gala Dinner in Adare Manor
31/7/10	Brehon Hotel, Killarney	1	117	Attendance at the Irish Open Golf and presentation of trophy
10/8/10	Fernhill House Hotel, Cork	1	55	Visit MV Julia (Cork to Swansea Ferry) in Ringaskiddy
				Meet Groups from West Cork (Tourism, Culture & Sport) in Glangarriff, Bantry, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, Bandon and Kinsale
				Visit Bantry House
				Launch Taste of West Cork Food Festival in Skibbereen
				Visit Model Railway Village in Clonakilty
				Attend Engage Arts Festival Promotion
16/9/10	Abbeyglen Castle Hotel, Galway	1	99	Visit Cnoc Suain Cultural Hill Village, Spiddal
				Meet local Tourism Group
				Open 33rd Clifden Community Arts Week
				Events in Donegal the following day
14/10/10	Castlecoote House, Roscommon	1	85	Photocall at Castlecoote House
				Address 23rd Annual Douglas Hyde Conference

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

351 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport if she will provide details of any foreign trips made by officials in public bodies under the remit of her Department in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011, the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel; the nature of entertainment for which expenses were incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2743/11]

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (Deputy Mary Hanafin)

Official travel and related matters in the Agencies and public bodies under the aegis of my Department are a day-to-day matter for each individual Agency and public body under various legislation pertaining to the establishment of those Agencies and public bodies. I will ask the agencies to supply the details directly to you.