Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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321. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or any officials from his Department or from bodies under the aegis of his Department travelled to the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference; the number who travelled; the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57315/22]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications led Ireland's delegation to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) 27 in Sharm El Sheikh. The Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I also participated in discussions and events at different times during the Conference.

A total of ten officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs travelled from Ireland at different times over the two weeks of the Conference. Nine members of the staff of the Embassy in Cairo, including the Ambassador, travelled for all or part of the Conference.

While the total costs relating to official participation in COP27 have not been fully compiled, I can confirm that the costs for travel from Ireland by Ministers and officials representing the Department of Foreign Affairs amounted to €10,343.