Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of money spent on paying delegates' allowance to officials for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27741/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Delegates' Allowance is only paid to officers who are serving as a member of a delegation representing Ireland at a meeting of the European Union or other International Organisation overseas. Chairperson's Allowance is a form of delegates allowance and is paid to officers who chair such international meetings.

Delegate's Allowance can be paid for up to four nights away in any seven-day period. Payments are made in accordance with the rates authorised by the Department of Finance. These payments are subject to income tax. The costs of delegate's and chairperson's allowance incurred by my Department are set out in tabular form.

It is important to point out that delegate's allowance is only payable when the travel being undertaken is directly related to representing Ireland at an EU or other International meeting. A significant proportion of travel undertaken by officials of my Department falls outside of this category and delegate's allowance would, therefore, not be paid in these cases.