John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

136. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he travelled abroad as part of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations; the locations he travelled to; the duration of the trip; the cost of the trip, including travel and accommodation in addition to other expenses incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18894/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I represented the Government at the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Ottawa and Toronto, Canada during the period 9 March to 12 March.

In addition to participating in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ottawa and visiting the Ireland Park Foundation Famine Memorial Park, the Irish Canadian Immigration Centre and attending the Ireland Fund Luncheon in Toronto, I also attended the Greening of the Niagara Falls. 

While in Canada I met with members of the Irish Community, Ms. Catherine McKenna MP, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, the IDA and some of their client companies, and members of the local business community, and also delivered the Keynote address at the Gowling WLG / Mason Hayes & Curran seminar on a theme of “Ireland: A New Gateway to Europe”.

The total cost paid for the visit for the official travelling party is circa €4,250. Costs have yet to be received from the Irish Embassy in Ottawa for any other expenses involved, although these are not expected to be material.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

137. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of representatives from municipal districts and county councils who travelled abroad as part of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations; the locations each representative travelled to; the duration of each trip; and the total costs incurred for each trip in tabular form. [18904/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department is not in possession of the information requested by the Deputy. Under the Local Government Act 2001, as amended, local authorities are independent statutory bodies. The reserved functions of a local authority are performed by the elected members by resolution passed at a meeting of the local authority. The prioritisation and sanctioning of expenditure, including authorising representation of the local authority by elected members, is a reserved function for each individual local authority.