John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of foreign visits undertaken by him and his Ministers of State in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; the location of each; the number of people who travelled; the cost for each trip; if he will provide the information in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35116/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to official travel overseas, undertaken by me, in my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have included below in tabular form a detailed breakdown of the costs incurred on accommodation and commercial flights for each trip; the number of accompanying officials; and the purpose of each trip. As the Deputy will appreciate, the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs includes an obligation to undertake, in the national interest, a significant amount of official travel overseas.

It has not been possible in the time available to provide this level of detail, in regard to travel undertaken by my predecessor or for the five Ministers of State who have served in this Department since 2007. However, I have provided as much detail as possible on annual travel costs and also provided a list of the trips undertaken by them.

My Department is fully compliant with the Department of Finance guidelines on foreign travel. My Department also operates its own detailed internal travel guidelines and practises which ensure cost effective travel practises, both in Headquarters and throughout our network of 75 diplomatic missions abroad. The central aim of the Departmental travel policy, which applies to both Ministers and officials, is to minimise official travel costs and to achieve value for money for expenditure necessarily incurred, consistent with the effective discharge of official duties.