asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980: (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not consider that this would be justified.

234.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980; (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

The information requested is set out in the attached tabular statement. As my Department was not set up until January 1980, the information relates only to that year.

Following is the statement:

* Officers accompanying Tánaiste had to remain on for some days after meeting.

235.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination, business and amount of expenditure involved in each trip, (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not consider that this would be justified.

236.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not consider that this would be justified.

237.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not consider that this would be justified.

238.

asked the Minister for Defence if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not consider that this would be justified.

239.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not consider that this would be justified.

240.

asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State: (b) the destination, business and amount of expenditure involved in each trip: (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

I am satisfied that the expenditure in time and money which would be involved in compiling the information sought by the Deputy would be disproportionate to the results achieved and would not be justified.

241.

asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of the year 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination, business and amount of expenditure involved in each trip, (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not think that this would be justified.

242.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

The activities of my Department necessitate frequent official visits abroad by me and the Minister of State at the Department. The information sought by the Deputy in respect of such visits is not readily available. It would entail an inordinate amount of time, involving diversion of staff from normal duties, to compile it and I do not consider that the work and expenses involved would be justified.

243.

asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht if she will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by the Minister; (b) the destination of business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied the Minister on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

Chun an t-eolas uile atá á lorg a chur le chéile bheadh am agus airgead poibli le caitheamh ar bhealach nach mbeadh inchosanta agus ni dóigh liom gur cóir é sin a dhéanamh.

244.

asked the Minister for Health if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State: (b) the destination, business, and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers, or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not consider that this would be justified.

245.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state in respect of the year 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980:— (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

I am not satisfied that the expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy would be justified.

246.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980: (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip, (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of state on each trip and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not consider that this would be justified.

247.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980: (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (c) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money involved in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not consider that this would be justified.

248.

asked the Minister for Transport if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980: (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination, business and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers and others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers and others.

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available and could only be compiled by the expenditure of an inordinate amount of staff time, which I do not consider would be justified.

249.

asked the Minister for the Environment if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980: (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) the destination of, business of and amount of expenditure involved in each trip; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip; and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers of others.

The information sought would not justify the amount of time and expense necessary to compile it.

250.

asked the Minister for Labour if he will state in respect of the years 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980 (a) the number of visits abroad by him and his Minister(s) of State; (b) destinations of and business of and amount of expenditure involved in these trips; (c) the number of officials, advisers or others who accompanied him or his Minister(s) of State on each trip and (d) the expenditure involved in respect of such officials, advisers or others.

There would be a disproportionate expenditure of public time and money in compiling the information for the period sought by the Deputy and I do not think that this would be justified.