Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Taoiseach if the Cabinet handbook protocol requires Ministers to consult him in advance of international visits as to whether a spouse may accompany them; if a Minister of State (details supplied) did so for recent travel to Brussels in Belgium; the response received to the request; the number of such requests made during each year since 2011; and the number of those requests acceded to. [34311/15]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Section 1.17 of the Cabinet Handbook provides that I should be consulted in advance where the nature of a visit abroad requires that a Minister be accompanied by his/her spouse/partner.

On the occasion referred to by the Deputy, the Minister of State's spouse travelled in a private capacity so it was not necessary that I be consulted.

Since 2011 my office has received no requests from Ministers' offices that the Minister be accompanied by his/her spouse/partner when travelling abroad on official business.