Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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7. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of Ministers, officials, advisors, and security staff visited Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis; and the estimated cost of same. [22048/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Special Delegation of Ireland to the Papal Funeral Mass on Saturday 26 April 2025 was led by President Michael D. Higgins and included Mrs Higgins, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, Tánaiste Simon Harris TD, and the Ambassador of Ireland to the Holy See Frances Collins.

The accompanying delegation for the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, consisted of a total of fourteen officials, advisors and close protection officers.

Part of the travel costs were borne by the Department of Defence, who is responsible for arranging Ministerial travel. The Department of Defence administers the contract with the aviation company providing such travel. It therefore organised the aircraft, and met the related costs, for both the Taoiseach's and Tánaiste's air travel for their attendance at the Papal funeral. Similarly, An Garda Síochána bore costs relating to the travel of a number of security personnel.

All these other costs amounted to €14,774.94.