Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 618: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 507 of 23 March 2010, if he will furnish the details of the costs, or if not yet available, the estimates regarding foreign travel, accommodation and related Ministerial and official costs associated with St. Patrick's Day 2010. [15747/10]

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

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 507 of 23 March 2010 and am now happy to be in a position to provide costs as requested by the Deputy.

St. Patrick's Day offers a unique opportunity to raise Ireland's profile, promote our interests overseas, to strengthen bilateral relations, provide support for Irish communities abroad and to deepen the connection with our Diaspora.

There is an unparalleled level of media and public attention on the Irish and Ireland around St. Patrick's Day and the media coverage this year demonstrated a very favourable disposition towards Ireland as a business partner, as a source of unique culture and as a destination for tourism.

Ministers visited 16 of our main trading partners, as well as significant emerging markets in Europe and Asia and were asked to place special emphasis on promoting Ireland's economic interests abroad through direct support for the State Agencies and through conveying a unified message about the Government's programme of economic recovery.

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 embraces 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.

Details of costs incurred by my Department in respect of official travel for St. Patrick's Day March 2010 are set out below. I travelled to Washington and was accompanied by the Secretary General of my Department and three officials:

*I am not claiming subsistence related to this trip.

** Includes additional overnight as necessitated by travel arrangements.

Minister of State Roche accompanied by his spouse travelled to Moscow and St. Petersburg:

* The Marriott Moscow waived the accommodation fee for the Minister of State and his spouse.

Minister of State Power accompanied by two officials travelled to Lesotho and South Africa as part of an Irish Aid field visit. While there, he participated in events relating to St. Patrick's Day and only costs relating to the Saint Patrick's Day elements have been included below.