Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the details of his travels abroad for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations; the people who travelled with him in their official party; the duration of the visit; and the cost. [14499/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I travelled to the United States from 11 to 17 March to represent the Government at promotional events in Dallas before attending the customary St. Patrick's Day ceremonies in Washington. On 17 March, I accompanied the Taoiseach to the White House for the traditional presentation of shamrock, followed by a meeting with President Bush in the Oval Office. Our discussions with the President covered Northern Ireland, immigration reform and other, including current international, issues. The Taoiseach and I also had a series of valuable meetings with key Members of Congress including Senators Biden, Clinton, Dodd, Kennedy, Leahy and McCain. We also met with Congressman Jim Walsh and members of the Friends of Ireland Group in Congress. The focus of these meetings was on Northern Ireland and immigration reform. This special opportunity, unique to Ireland, for direct and detailed dialogue with the President of the United States and his Administration, and also key players on Capitol Hill, is exceptionally valued by the Government.

My programme, in Washington, also included attendance at the American-Ireland Fund national gala dinner, the lunch hosted by Speaker Hastert, and the Ambassador's St. Patrick's Day reception. In addition, the Taoiseach and I had a very valuable meeting on immigration reform with Niall O'Dowd and Grant Lally of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. I also accompanied the Taoiseach to a meeting with the Ireland-America Economic Advisory Board. Discussions with the board focused on the successes of the Irish economy, business prospects in the US and developments in Northern Ireland. The Secretary General of my Department, the Director General of the Anglo-Irish division, my press adviser and my private secretary travelled to Washington in the official party.

In Dallas, where I was accompanied by my wife, my press adviser and my private secretary, my programme included attendance at the Irish-American Society dinner, the downtown parade and a breakfast hosted by the American-Ireland Fund. I also had a briefing session with the editorial board of The Dallas Morning News, and addressed a lunch hosted by the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

My address to the business lunch focused on the success of the Irish economy, highlighting the theme of the Irish advantage, which was also articulated by the Taoiseach and Ministers at a wide variety of events throughout the world over the St. Patrick's Day period. The importance of the Irish-American relationship, the peace process and immigration reform also featured in my remarks and discussions in Dallas. The cost of the visit, including transatlantic and internal transport and accommodation, will be approximately €51,000.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of visits abroad made by him in 2005 and to date in 2006; the persons who travelled with him on each occasion abroad; the purpose of each visit; and the cost of each visit. [14564/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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For the period in question, I made 60 trips involving 74 destinations. The dates, destinations and purpose of the visits abroad made by me as Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2005 and in 2006, to date, are set out in the table attached. Several of the visits in 2005 were undertaken in my capacity as Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations in connection with UN reform.

On visits abroad, I would generally be accompanied by my private secretary, a small number of officials from the divisions of the Department whose work directly pertains to the meeting or conference in question and a press officer. On occasion, I may also be accompanied by the Secretary General of the Department, and sometimes by my special adviser.

When I travelled to the countries worst affected by the tsunami disaster from 8-13 January 2005, I was accompanied on the Government jet by the heads of four Irish aid agencies — Concern, Goal, Trócaire and the Irish Red Cross — who met their own hotel and subsistence costs. Similarly, the delegation for the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in May 2005 included a representative of the Irish non-governmental organisation, NGO, community, who travelled at his own expense.

The total travel, accommodation and subsistence costs of Departmental personnel at HQ for the conduct of official business abroad amounted to €3.37 million in 2005. The corresponding figure for the first three months of 2006 amounted to €820,000. The analogous costs for myself and my private secretary in 2005 came to a total of €185,472; an average of €3,785 for each of the 49 visits undertaken in that year. As some of the costs relating to my recent visits abroad remain to be brought to account, the corresponding figures for the first three months of 2006 are not yet available.

As the subject of the question covers 60 visits abroad involving a diverse number of officials, I believe the Deputy will appreciate that the time and effort involved in collating the individual cost attributable to each official, for each visit, would be disproportionate.