Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 577: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of money spent on hotel accommodation by his Department and each State agency under the aegis of his Department for each of the years 2004 to date in 2008; if he will provide the information available in tabular readable form. [46673/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 578: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the procurement arrangements in place in his Department and each State agency under the aegis of his Department for the sourcing of hotel accommodation for him, for his Departmental staff and staff at each State agency, when overnight accommodation is necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46688/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 577 and 578 together.

While procurement arrangements in place in my Department are not specifically for the sourcing of hotel accommodation, all overnight subsistence rates are paid in line with Finance Circular 11/82. Sourcing of hotel accommodation by Bodies under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is, in the first instance, a matter for the Bodies themselves as part of the day-to-day activities governing their operation. Under Section 10.2 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, published by the Department of Finance, in addition to being required to submit to an Annual Report and Accounts, the Chairperson of each State Body is required to submit a separate report covering corporate governance issues including affirmation that all appropriate procedures for procurement are being carried out.

The following are details of expenditure by my Department on hotel accommodation in countries other than Ireland in the each of the years 2004 to date in 2008:

It is not possible to supply information in relation to expenditure on hotel accommodation within Ireland for the period in question because in accordance with Civil Service regulations officers are paid a flat rate for overnight subsistence and they are not required to specify the type of accommodation they use.