Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 360: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost of foreign travel, accommodation and related ministerial and official expenses associated with St. Patrick's Day 2008; and the plans relating to St. Patrick's Day 2009 and their projected cost. [6163/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Much careful consideration is given to determining the Ministerial programmes for St. Patrick's Day to ensure that Ireland's economic, trade, social and cultural interests are effectively represented and promoted. In 2008, the then Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Martin Cullen attended the St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Atlanta, United States of America. The total cost of the visit, including the cost for the two officials who accompanied him, was €21,133.

The St. Patrick's Day Ministerial programme for 2009 is not yet finalised and projected costs cannot be determined at this stage. The cost of the individual programmes and accompanying delegations will, in all cases, be kept to a reasonable minimum. In view of the current difficult economic climate, the potential provided by these visits to promote trade and business opportunities will be maximised and will be a key component of the 2009 programmes.