Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has responded to the offer from an airline (details supplied) dated 20 September 2012, to offer an opportunity for the Irish EU Presidency to reduce the cost of the travel for politicians and officials between Brussels and Dublin; the reasons this offer has not been taken up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56415/12]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The offer referred to by the Deputy, was initially received by my colleague Lucinda Creighton, TD, Minister for European Affairs in the Department of An Taoiseach on 20th September 2012.

My Office received a request to examine the feasibility of incorporating the offer within the context of the current Government contract for Travel Management Services. The National Procurement Service procured this central government contract and the current provider is Carlson Wagonlit Travel (Ireland) Ltd. This contract gives the Contractor responsibility for the sourcing of the most competitive flight ticket fares/rates available from the market (while having regard to optimum route and timing options) for all destinations. CWT negotiates with airlines on behalf of Government Departments to get a reduced fare for specific routes/destinations, which can be booked centrally through CWT. CWT then invoice each Department/Office for flights booked.

A meeting took place between the airline and CWT and was attended by staff of the National Procurement Service. Further discussions took place to clarify the offer and the logistics of how the facility would be operated. The offer was agreed and is now available for booking through the Travel Management Services Contract.

The National Procurement Service has made government departments aware of this offer to inform their decisions in relation to travel arrangements between Dublin and Brussels during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union during the first half of 2013.