asked the Minister for Finance if any public moneys were expended in the course of the visit which the Taoiseach made to Castlebar, County Mayo, to unveil a plaque on the house of his birth; if so, the amount of the moneys involved in respect of the Taoiseach and each Minister, Minister of State and public service personnel who attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

: Apart from security, the only expenditure of public moneys involved in connection with the visit of the Taoiseach to Castlebar on the occasion referred to by the Deputy related to subsistence and travelling. Detailed particulars such as those requested by the Deputy are not available.

It is the practice not to disclose information about the cost of security of any particular operation.

: Will the Minister not agree that the cost of the travel arrangements involved has no security implications?

: No, I will not.

: How can the Minister justify that?

: As the Deputy should know, there can be security implications in the travel of each Minister.

: Will the Minister have a word with his colleague the Minister for Justice and ask him to change his mind and release to this House and to an eagerly awaiting public the mileage covered by the State cars on that occasion?

: That is a matter for the Minister for Justice.