Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 649: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the cost on a yearly basis for transport hire of any kind for her transport and that of her staff for each year since 1997 to date in 2007; the reason for such hire; if tenders were sought; the locations brought from and to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34086/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The cost of providing transport hire for my predecessor and I, Ministers of State assigned to my Department and my staff for the period 2003 to date in 2007 is set out in the table below. It is not possible to provide the information for the period 1997 to 2002 in the timeframe given and further details will be forwarded in writing directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The transport hire costs were incurred almost exclusively in connection with attendance at the monthly meetings of the EU Council of Agricultural and Fisheries Ministers, other international negotiations, including the World Trade Organisation and other official ministerial visits abroad. Foreign transport hire is arranged by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the cost is recouped by my Department. Transport hire within Ireland, which is confined almost exclusively to the cost of transport hire for official visits by Ministerial delegations, is minimal so tenders are not normally sought.