Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have read the Department of Finance Circular 6/1959, which states "[w]here a member of the Government travels either as a representative of the Government or on the business of his Department and he decides that it is necessary in the public interest that he should be accompanied by his wife" - I presume that should also include "husband" but perhaps it was a sign of the times - "for the purpose of her attendance on some special occasion, or series of such occasions, arising directly from the Minister's duties, expenses claimed by the Minister in respect of such a journey by his wife may...be paid from public funds." That is the standard against which we must measure the London trip. These are the official guidelines according to which a spouse of a Minister can be paid to travel. I set that as the context for when the Chairman reverts to us with his information.