Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government 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. [44820/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department complies with Department of Finance guidelines on foreign travel. It operates on the basis that only necessary travel should be undertaken, that the number of officers travelling should be kept to a minimum and that economy class should be used wherever possible. All foreign travel undertaken by staff is subject to a system of specific approval, which is designed to ensure that best value for money is obtained. In this context, expenditure on travel and subsistence is monitored on an ongoing basis.

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, which my Department has sent to agencies under my aegis, provides that the responsibility for ensuring that management operates effective and efficient internal controls rests with the board of directors or a committee of similar status. The code requires each State body to produce as part of its annual reporting and accounts package a statement on the system of internal financial control which operates within the body. This statement is signed by the Chairperson and is subject to audit review. The Agencies within the Department's remit have been reminded of the ongoing requirement to adhere to Department of Finance guidelines on foreign travel.