asked the Taoiseach the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

There were two such occasions as follows: (1) 23/24 March — Maastricht, Holland — attending meeting of European Council; (2) 30/31 March — Bonn, West Germany — working visit for discussions with German Chancellor.

393.

asked the Minister for Energy the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

The only country I visited during this period on an official basis was Denmark which I visited on a fact finding basis from 24 to 26 March 1981.

394.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981; the places visited and the purpose of each trip.

The following is the information requested:

395.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

In the period covered by the question I was engaged on official business outside Ireland on four occasions.

The details are as follows: (1) Visit to USA and Canada on CTT and IDA promotion; (2) Visit to Japan and USA on IDA promotion; (3) Two separate visits to London to (a) attend an International Food Exhibition at which CTT organised a stand and (b) meet trade interests with a view to the promotion of Irish goods abroad.

396.

asked the Minister for Justice the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "three". I went to Italy to study police helicopters and other equipment. I visited the United States to address the Chicago Limerickmens' Association and on another occasion I went on a promotion tour on behalf of the IDA to the United States.

397.

asked the Minister for Defence the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981; the places visited and the purpose of each trip.

Between 1 January and 31 March 1981, I made one official visit abroad to Irish troops serving with United Nations missions in Lebanon, Cyprus and Israel.

398.

asked the Minister for Finance the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981; the places visited and the purpose of each trip.

The following is a list of trips abroad undertaken by me between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981.

399.

asked the Minister for the Public Service the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981; the places visited and the purpose of each trip.

In my capacity as Minister for the Public Service I did not travel outside the country during the period 1 January 1981 to 31 March 1981.

400.

asked the Minister for Education the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

Once. I attended, at the invitation of the Greek Minister for Education, an EEC International Symposium on "Technical and Vocational Education:— Trends in the Framework of the European Communities" held in Athens from 17 to 20 March 1981.

401.

asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

I made four journeys to Brussels in this period — three to attend EEC Council of Ministers Meetings and one to meet the EEC Commissioner for Agriculture.

402.

asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht the number of times she was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

Ní raibh mé thar lear le linn na tréimhse sin.

403.

asked the Minister for Health the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose for each trip.

I was not outside the country during the period stated.

404.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

I have not been out of the country during the period stated.

405.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

In the period between 1 January and 31 March 1981 I was out of the country on five occasions.

I made one visit to Paris for discussions with the French Minister for Fisheries on matters relating to EEC fisheries policy. The remaining four trips all involved attending meetings of EEC Council of Ministers for Fisheries in Brussels.

406.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

I have not travelled outside the country in my capacity as Minister for Posts and Telegraphs during the period mentioned.

407.

asked the Minister for Transport the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981; the places visited and the purpose of each trip.

I have been abroad on official business three times between 1 January and 31 March 1981.

The details are as follows:—

408.

asked the Minister for the Environment the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981; the places visited and the purpose of each trip.

Between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981 I was outside the country twice. In January I visited Denmark for discussions with the Danish Minister for the Environment, and to see the system in operation there for dealing with waste disposal. In March I visited London to attend the Annual Banquet of the General Council of the Irish County Associations.

409.

asked the Minister for Labour the number of times he was outside the country between 1 January 1981 and 31 March 1981; the places visited; and the purpose of each trip.

I paid two visits outside the country in the period January to March 1981. One visit was to Brussels for discussions with the EEC Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs.

The second visit was to the United States at the instance of the Government to participate in St. Patrick's Day celebrations at San Francisco and Oakland and to address an industrial promotion function organised by the IDA in Los Angeles.