Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 393: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the arrangements that apply in respect of agencies associated with her Department in regard to booking accommodation, travel arrangements, entertainment allowances for meals and so on for officials, board members or directors; if these arrangements apply when the agency involved may host a Minister or Minister of State for functions or occasions at home or abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37204/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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An updated Corporate Governance manual was prepared and issued by the Department to all agencies under its aegis earlier this year. Subsequently, the Department brought the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, 2009, which was issued by the Department of Finance and included requirements in relation to expenses, to the attention of all its agencies.

In general, the practice to date has been that an agency, hosting a Minister or Minister of State for functions or occasions abroad, would make the necessary travel, accommodation and other arrangements and meet some of the associated costs. Such a practice would also apply, but to a much lesser extent, for home events. This practice is currently being reviewed, in consultation with the relevant agencies under the aegis of the Department.