Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of official domestic travel including all transport costs, accommodation, meals and other incidentals incurred by himself and the Ministers of State at his Department in 2007, 2008 and to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36566/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In regard to official domestic travel, I have included below, in tabular form, the total costs incurred on such travel for 2007, 2008 and 2009 (January - August) in regard to each Minister and Minister of State who has served in my Department in this period.

My Department is fully compliant with the Department of Finance guidelines on travel. My Department also operates its own detailed internal travel guidelines and practices which ensure cost effective travel practices, 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.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Domestic Travel Costs 2007-2009

Ministers of State, Domestic Travel Costs 2007-2009

* There is no official car provided to Ministers of State, figures reflect the motor travel allowances claimed for official travel undertake, subject to guidelines as set out by the Department of Finance.