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

Go ahead. The Taoiseach of the day nominates his Cabinet. The Cabinet handbook - I did not receive a copy of it as I was not a Minister - sets out how things are to be conducted. As I said in my opening remarks, in 2007 I was nominated to travel on a St. Patrick's Day mission. I brought my wife with me and, yes, the State paid. That was part of what was agreed could be done at that time. I made no decision about the tickets. They were booked and paid for by civil servants in accordance with the regulations in that regard. That happened six years ago. The question that has been asked is should it be permitted now. I have already outlined my position in relation to travel.