John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am going to help the Deputy out here. One of the issues here is that freedom of information has cost Departments a considerable amount of money. However, long may the facility to make FOI requests last. I have no problem at all in that regard and I have said that. Under the chairmanship at the time of Deputy Michael Noonan, a group travelled from this committee to Sacramento. I was part of that group and that is how I know of it. Our wives were brought with us and we paid for our wives. That is a fact. I am sure there are other examples to which this committee can turn. The Deputy asked about this and pressed me on it, so I am giving this example.

What seems to be unusual about travel is that it seems as if I did it and no one else did it in 2008, but that is not the case. That is not my case. I am answering questions for me today.