asked the Taoiseach if, arising from his recent visits to the United States and Canada, he will state: (a) the names of those accompanying him; (b) the cost to the State in respect of each such individual; and (c) the total cost to the State including travel expenses, subsistence allowances and official entertainment expenses in respect of all the personnel involved.

The officials who accompanied myself and my wife on our visit to the United States and Canada included the Secretary to the Government, the Government Press Secretary, the Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and my Private Secretary. The cost to the State to date in respect of each is as follows:

The total cost to the State of the above amounts to £18,057.59. Details of other costs involved have not been finalised to date.