asked the Taoiseach the number of members of the public service, in the broadest acceptance of that phrase, who accompanied him on his recent visit to New York or travelled to New York in connection with it; the estimated cost of their attendance there, including both travel and subsistence expenses; and the notional value of their time expressed as the appropriate proportion of their annual salaries.

Six officials accompanied me as the official party on my recent visit to New York. The estimated cost of their attendance there is £19,342. I would not be prepared to give any estimate of the notional value of their time as I believe this to be far too vague a concept to be meaningful.