Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the international flights taken by Departmental staff on Department business to date in 2007; the number of flights to each destination; the number of domestic flights taken to date in 2007; the origin and destinations involved; the cost of flights; the flights that were taken on Government aircraft and those taken on normal scheduled airlines; if the carbon impact of these flights is taken into account during planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15483/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Table 1 set out below provides details of international fights taken by staff of my Department on official business on scheduled flights from 1 January 2007 to 20 April 2007. The table shows the final destination for each journey, the number of flights to each destination and the cost involved. My Department's staff have not taken any domestic flights on scheduled aircraft to date in 2007. The cost of many international flights taken by my Department's staff is recoupable in whole or in part from organisations such as the European Commission. Of the total cost of €71,634.18 for flights on Table 1, it is estimated that €28,831 is recoupable. Table 2 provides details of flights which staff of my Department made on Government aircraft to date in 2007. In all cases, the staff in question travelled with me or with the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade and Commerce at my Department. The carbon impact of flights is not accounted for at present by my Department. However, as outlined in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007–2012, pending the inclusion of aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme, the Government has decided that it will voluntarily introduce a carbon offsetting scheme for all air travel on Government business, including flights by Ministers and civil servants, from the beginning of the Kyoto commitment period in January 2008. Practical arrangements will be put in place to enable each Department to compute annually the emissions associated with its air travel and to make a contribution to an appropriate fund to secure verified emission reductions of an equivalent amount. Notwithstanding the Government's commitment in this regard, the carbon impact of flights must also be balanced against the considerable benefits accruing to Ireland from business transacted on the journeys in question in terms of promoting trade, attracting inward investment and influencing international policy.