Dept defends expenses run up on overseas trips

The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is defending the expenses run up by government ministers while attending overseas events.

Reports at the weekend revealed that Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue ran up a travel bill of more than €100,000 in two years while he was Minister for Tourism.

The items listed in documents released to the Sunday Tribune under the Freedom of Information Act included a series of €900-a-night hotels, more than €9,000 for car hire, €250 spent on water taxis in Venice and €80 for moving luggage in India.

A limousine in Berlin where Mr O’Donoghue was attending a World Cup soccer game cost almost €2,500.

In a statement issued last night, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism said ministers travelling to high-profile events abroad invariably involve a high premium and that every effort is made to secure the best possible rates for ministers and their delegations.