Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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155. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the international events and engagements he has attended at which members of the media were also in attendance as part of the Government delegation, since the formation of the Government; the media organisation they represented; the cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41597/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since my appointment as Minister for Defence I regularly travel overseas representing the Government at a range of bilateral and multilateral meetings and events.

In some instances, media will travel to attend aspects of my programmes overseas, to report on the event in question or to conduct interviews or obtain comments on the margins of events.

Although media may travel to attend aspects of my programme, they are not part of the Official Delegation.

Travel and hotel costs associated with media organisations choosing to cover visits and events of this nature, including commercial flight and accommodation costs, are not covered by the Department of Defence.

However, on overnight visits to locations where Defence Force personnel are operational, and where there are not commercial hotel options available, on occasion, a number of national media organisations stayed in locations where Defence Force members are deployed.