Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I understand there is a requirement in the Cabinet handbook that Ministers who wish to bring a spouse or a partner with them on a foreign trip must consult the Taoiseach and his Department before they have permission to do so. I asked a parliamentary question about this and was advised that the number of requests to bring a spouse or a partner had declined in the past number of years. However, I was not able to get proper information on the number of occasions the Taoiseach or his Department refused permission for a Minister to bring his or her spouse or partner on a foreign trip.

On how many occasions has the Taoiseach refused permission for somebody to bring his or her spouse? What criteria are used to decide whether a Minister may or may not travel with a spouse? In view of the civil partnership legislation going through the House, does the Taoiseach propose to extend the option for people to bring their spouse or partner to girlfriends, fiancees or civil partners?

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