Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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127. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a schedule of foreign travel episodes arranged by his Department for elected representatives, Ministers and their staff and-or special advisers since 1 January 2018 to date in 2022; and if he will provide a schedule of locations of the travel arranged or advised on, to include the final destination of travel episode, by year, and the full cost of same. [8501/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) provides the government and the President with an independent, flexible and effective air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations. Details in relation to the use of this Service by members of the Government over the period in question, as well as the average costs are available on the website of my Department, www.defence.ie.

My Department did not arrange any other foreign travel for elected representatives, Ministers and their staff or special advisors from any other government body or department from 1 January 2018 to date in 2022.

With regard to my own foreign travel and that of my staff or special advisors, the detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available.  My Department is retrieving and collating the information requested and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.