Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department and all agencies under his remit are in compliance with the Department of Finance guidelines on foreign travel; and the mechanisms in place in each to ensure ongoing compliance with these guidelines. [44822/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, and the bodies for which it is responsible, are fully compliant with the Department of Finance guidelines on foreign travel.

The Department operates its own internal travel guidelines and practises, in compliance with those issued by the Department of Finance. These guidelines ensure transparent and cost effective travel practises, both in Headquarters and throughout our network of 75 diplomatic missions abroad.

To ensure compliance with the guidelines, on a day to day basis, all travel by Headquarters-based officers must be authorised by a designated travel officer, at Counsellor (Principal Officer) level, while travel by officers based abroad must be authorised by the relevant Head of Mission.

The Department's travel budget, as provided for in the Estimates, will reflect an 11% reduction in 2009 over 2008. In light of this, I have asked my officials to undertake a review of current travel policies to identify even further cost efficiencies, where possible.