Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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159. To ask the Taoiseach the total costs of accommodation and travel expenses associated with his recent foreign trip, or foreign trips by Ministers for State at his Department, for St Patrick’s Day; and if a breakdown can be provided on travel costs, accommodation costs, country/state visited, number of departmental staff accompanying him, and the duration of the trip, in tabular form. [14750/23]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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St. Patrick's Day offers a unique opportunity to engage with the global Irish community and to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas. My visit to Washington DC this year, from 14-19 March, also provided an opportunity to recognise the steadfast and invaluable support and engagement of the United States in the peace process over the decades, particularly this year as we approach the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. I undertook a programme encompassing high-level political engagements, including with President Biden, Vice-President Harris, Speaker McCarthy and with members of the Congressional Friends of Ireland, as well as participating in economic, diaspora and cultural events, and events highlighting academic exchange programmes between the United States and Ireland. I was accompanied by a delegation of 9 people with a total cost of €15,391.98 for flights.

The Government Chief Whip, Minister Naughton, travelled on the 10 March for a 6 day programme, accompanied by one member of staff from this Department, to Miami, and Monterrary and Mexico City in Mexico. Flight costs of €5,947.95 have been incurred for the Minister and one member of staff. Travel arrangements for another member of staff from the Department of Health, who also accompanied the Minister of State were organised and paid for by the Department of Health.

The Minister of State for European Affairs, travelled on the 15 March to Italy for a 3 day programme, accompanied by one member of staff from this Department and a member of staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs. €469.08 expenditure has been incurred by this Department for flights for one member of the Minister's staff. The remaining travel arrangements for the Minister of State for European Affairs and accompanying staff member were organised and paid for by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

No invoices pertaining to accommodation on these trips have been received from suppliers yet. Any future payments will be included in the Foreign Travel Report, published by the Department of the Taoiseach on its website on a monthly basis, which details the costs relating to the foreign travel undertaken by the Taoiseach, and Ministers of State attached to the Department, which was paid by the Department in the previous month. All necessary expenditure on official travel are in line with the Department's Travel Policy which is based on guidelines laid down by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform. The Department seeks at all times to ensure best value for money is sought in respect of each official trip undertaken, consistent with the requirements of official business.