Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

In 2004, the current Tánaiste was critical of the expenditure that was incurred when many meetings were held across the country. The Government of the time was trying to showcase the country to its best advantage. There are suggestions that the number of ministerial meetings in this country will be reduced. Is the Minister of State concerned that such a move would limit our opportunity to showcase the best of what Ireland has to offer at a time when that might be needed more than it was in the past? I fully appreciate the need for strict control of budgets in this regard, as set out by the Minister of State. I commend the Government in that respect. Does the Minister of State have a ballpark figure for what the whole initiative will cost? I have seen a figure of €60 million, excluding security. Can she put a more precise figure on it at this stage?

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