Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The practices are outlined in the rules. I can outline the circulars to the House if the Deputy so wishes. There is a number of circulars that deal with foreign travel, such as Circular 36 of 1971, Circular 11 of 1982, and Circular 31 of March 1998. They deal with foreign travel policy documents, travelling and subsistence regulations. The primary circular governing these matters is the circular sent out on 31 March 1998. The normal practice is that the Department of Finance communicates with other Departments. It is a matter for those Departments to communicate the matter to agencies and bodies under their remit. I requested the Departments yesterday to reiterate the provisions of these circulars to the relevant agencies, as well as to their own officers.

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