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12/03/2008
Ahern Defends 'St. Patrick's Day' Trips Abroad
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told the Dáil today that money spent by Government departments to travel to global St Patrick’s Day events is in fact beneficial in promoting Ireland for foreign investment and tourism.
Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny quizzed the Taoiseach over figures which exposed the €90,000 spent on limousine, taxi and car hire during the various trips.
The Taoiseach defended the expenditure saying that Ministers went abroad to meet businessmen and contacts, not just to promote their own department responsibilities.
Mr Ahern said: “We look at where there’s added value for this country to promote and showcase the country in a modern way. That is why - in a more difficult year - it is a good and fair share of foreign and direct investment.
“It’s why, for a country of our size, we get eight to nine million tourist per year.”
According to figures obtained by RTÉ last year, under the Freedom of Information Act, the St. Patrick’s Day trips cost around €560,000.
The figures also revealed that Minister for Arts Seamus Brennan stayed in an apartment costing €1,650 per night during a trip to Italy.
(DS)
Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny quizzed the Taoiseach over figures which exposed the €90,000 spent on limousine, taxi and car hire during the various trips.
The Taoiseach defended the expenditure saying that Ministers went abroad to meet businessmen and contacts, not just to promote their own department responsibilities.
Mr Ahern said: “We look at where there’s added value for this country to promote and showcase the country in a modern way. That is why - in a more difficult year - it is a good and fair share of foreign and direct investment.
“It’s why, for a country of our size, we get eight to nine million tourist per year.”
According to figures obtained by RTÉ last year, under the Freedom of Information Act, the St. Patrick’s Day trips cost around €560,000.
The figures also revealed that Minister for Arts Seamus Brennan stayed in an apartment costing €1,650 per night during a trip to Italy.
(DS)
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