Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the international flights taken by his 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 and 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. [18616/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Table 1 provides details of international fights taken by staff of my Department on official business on scheduled flights from 1 January 2007 to 30 June 2007. The table shows the final destination for each journey, the number of flights to each destination and the cost involved, based on provisional accounts to the end of June. 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 €153,349.66 for flights on Table 1, it is estimated that approximately €63,525 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 a Minister of State at my Department. The carbon impact of flights is not accounted for at present by my Department. However, the Government has given commitments in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 and in the Programme for Government that it will introduce a carbon offsetting scheme for all air travel on Government business. My Department will implement the arrangements that are to be put in place to meet these commitments. 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.