Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Public Accounts Committee
Statement by Chairman
11:00 am
John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source
I said in answer to Deputy Harris that it is clear that should a spouse be permitted to travel, the Minister must pay. That is clear. I said the exceptional rule needs to be clarified in terms of cases which are seriously exceptional. It is the Taoiseach who signs off on them, and in this day and age, that would not be acceptable. I gave myself as an example. I said if I was asked to sign off on it, I probably would not. What constitutes an exceptional case needs to be established. I did not say or mean at any stage that there should be a carte blanche arrangement for anyone and everyone to travel. I do not agree with that.
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