Ministers must approve trip costs

By Mary Regan, Political Reporter

Monday, October 26, 2009

GOVERNMENT ministers will have to agree to all foreign travel expenses arranged on their behalf before they leave the country under new rules removing the excuse that they were not responsible for lavish spending while abroad.

Irish embassies have been instructed that arrangements made for visiting ministers including chauffeurs, hotels, restaurants and entertainment must be cleared and signed off by the relevant ministers before he or she leaves the country.

Mary Harney and Noel Dempsey have joined the queue of Government ministers attempting to defend their lavish expenses claims with fresh revelations of their spending abroad.

Mr Dempsey, the Minister for Transport, said he was "very unhappy" with costs incurred on his behalf while abroad, including €13,580 on chauffeur services on eight official trips.

Since January last year, Mr Dempsey managed to spend €38,000 on eight trips, including €9,000 for flights to Australia and the frequent use of VIP airport lounges.

His spokesperson said local embassy officials had organised the car hire and other arrangements but Mr Dempsey would ensure his own department officials took responsibility for travel arrangements in future.

This echoes the defence used by Environment Minister John Gormley, who blamed the embassy in London for organising his €2,200 limousine to collect him from a ferry at Holyhead.

Embassies have been warned they must reduce their massive bills for limousines and other chauffeur cars, paid for by the Irish taxpayer, and should only book such transport if they get a direct instruction from the visiting minister or Government department.

The notice to embassies came from Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.

He said: "Missions were earlier this month instructed, where it is not already the practice, to ensure that the Ministerial Private Office concerned is provided with a detailed estimate of the nature and likely cost of the local transport, hotel and/or other costs in advance of the visit and to ensure that they receive written confirmation from these offices before any costs are incurred."

He said this will "enable departments and ministers to be fully aware of the costs of their travel" and that he expects a "dramatic reduction in expenditure" on limousine and car hire by embassies.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, October 26, 2009