Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 378: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had contact with the Irish Embassy in London with regard to its expenditure on cars and limousines for Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36647/09]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 379: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of money spent by the Irish Embassy in London on the hire of cars, limousines and cabs in 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36651/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 379 together. It is standard recognised international practice for a Minister in any government to be met on arrival in a foreign country by their Ambassador or an embassy official, to be accompanied by their embassy throughout the visit and to be seen off by the embassy on their departure. It is also standard practice for the embassy to arrange transport and accommodation for visiting ministerial delegations where this is not provided by the host government. In addition, it is normal practice for an Embassy representative to be present on the ground to assist with transit when a Ministerial delegation arrives at an airport in its country of accreditation en route to a third country. This is particularly so when the transit occurs through the city in which the Embassy is located. These courtesies are universally observed and have been extended to Irish Government Ministers, regardless of party, since the earliest years of the State. It had been the practice over several decades for chauffeur-drive cars to be hired to transport Ministerial delegations where local Embassy vehicles were unavailable or unable to accommodate the delegation. This practice, which had been followed by all Governments going back at least thirty years, was discontinued in February this year, following a decision by the current Government that chauffeur- drive cars should not be hired unless there are compelling business reasons to do so. The Government also decided that in situations where it is necessary to hire vehicles for the transport of Ministerial delegations, people carriers should be used, where this is the cheapest option. I have been in frequent contact with the Secretary General of my Department, in his capacity as Accounting Officer, regarding these matters, including the particular case of Embassy London, and he and senior officers of the Department's Corporate Services Division have communicated the Government's position to all Missions on a number of occasions during the course of this year. A number of communications which issued to Missions since late last year have emphasized the severity of the pressure on the public finances and the consequent need to make savings across the entire Department. The Department's travel and subsistence regulations, most recently revised and re-issued in June 2009, are underpinned by the need to obtain best value for money in respect of expenditure incurred. Missions have been reminded of the need to regularly review their arrangements with regard to locally procured services including chauffeur-drive car hire. Where annual expenditure is likely to be above a certain threshold, Missions are also expected to ensure that Departmental guidelines on procurement are being complied with and that indefinite or open-ended arrangements are not allowed to develop or continue. As regards travel by Ministerial delegations, Missions were earlier this month instructed, where it not already the practice, to ensure that the Ministerial Private Office concerned is provided with a detailed estimate of the nature and likely cost of the local transport, hotel and/or other costs in advance of the visit and to ensure that they receive written confirmation from these offices before any costs are incurred. This will enable Departments and Ministers to be fully aware of the costs of their travel. The Embassy London services a relatively large number of visits by Government Ministers to Britain as well as a significant number of Ministerial transits through London Airports. For well over twenty five years, the Embassy in London had been routinely hired chauffeur-drive cars for Ministerial delegations and those of other senior office holders visiting Britain or transiting British airports. This practice was informed by a number of logistical considerations, including security concerns. For reasons of economy, in January 2009 the Embassy in London purchased a seven-seat vehicle which, together with the official embassy car, is now routinely used for transporting visiting and transiting delegations where required. Even when the annualised cost of the purchase of the second vehicle is taken into account, this measure has generated substantial savings, particularly on chauffeur-drive hire and travel. On foot of the instructions issued earlier this year to all Missions about reducing the use of hired cars and making bookings only on the specific instructions of the other Department or Minister's Office concerned, I anticipate that 2009 will show a dramatic reduction in expenditure on hiring chauffeur-drive cars, in London and elsewhere. The expenditure information requested by the Deputy is given in tabular form.

Embassy of Ireland, London

Taxi, Chauffeur drive and Car Hire costs 2007, 2008

* Taxi costs incurred by embassy staff on official duty