Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I said earlier, the same regulations apply now as applied in my predecessor's time; there has been no change in the arrangements.

With regard to the question of accompaniment, if people are on official visits, it is possible to be accompanied from time to time by one's spouse, although it does not often happen.

With regard to the question of the use of scheduled flights, I speak for myself and if the Deputy wants more general information he would be best to put his questions to the Minister for Defence. In regard to my own situation, since I became Taoiseach I have travelled to the United States and Japan on official visits by scheduled flights. I have travelled by way of Government jet to Brussels for Council meetings and I have travelled to a number of capitals during the course of preparing for European Council meetings by Government jet. It would not have been possible to conduct those meetings in the time available where it not for the Government jet.

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