Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 171: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of any foreign trips made by him in the year 2010 and to date in 011; the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the exact mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel and the nature of the entertainment for which the expenses were incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2677/11]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of hotel accommodation used by him within the State while on ministerial duties in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the name of each hotel in which he stayed; the costs associated with each stay and the purpose of each trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2722/11]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 173 together.

The details requested in relation to foreign trips made by me in the year 2010 and to date in 2011 is provided in the table below.

The Government Jet was used for all of these trips, the costs were met by the Department of Defence.

I stayed in two hotels within the State in the course of my Ministerial duties. On 21 July 2009 I addressed the Magill Summer School in Donegal and the accommodation provided for me at the Highlands Hotel. Glenties, was paid for by the organisers of the event. On 22 August 2010 I addressed the Beal na Blath Commemoration in Cork and on that occasion I paid for my own accommodation.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of any foreign trips made by officials in his Department in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel; the nature of the entertainment for which expenses were incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2692/11]

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of any foreign trips made by officials in public bodies under the remit of his Department in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011, the purpose of each trip; the costs associated with each trip broken down by air travel, ground transportation, hotel accommodation and entertaining expenses; if air travel was by way of commercial airline or Government jet; the mode of ground transportation used; the name of each hotel; the nature of entertainment for which expenses were incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2737/11]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 174 together.

In the period in question there were approximately some 1,078 foreign flight undertaken on commercial airlines by officials of my Department. Given the volume involved, it is not possible in the time available to provide the range of information sought by the Deputy in respect of each journey. However the following table gives details of the total annual costs in relation to flights undertaken in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011.

In relation to the flight costs, a portion of this money is recoupable from EU and other International organisations. Details in respect of usage of the Government jet are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Defence.

Details in respect of bodies under the aegis of my Department are as follows.

Revenue Commissioners

A significant element of the flight costs are recouped from the EU

State Laboratory

Some of the flight costs were recoupable from EU organisation.

Public Appointments service

Valuation Office

Office of the Ombudsman

National Treasury Management Agency (including in relation to the NPRF, NDFA and NAMA).

The National Treasury Management Agency have provided the following information in relation to foreign travel undertaken in 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011.

* Includes some domestic expenses as the NTMA accounting system does not split such expenses between those incurred in Ireland and those incurred abroad.