Committee Reports > List of Committees > Dáil > 1958 > Committee of Public Accounts > Report - Appropriation Accounts 1955 - 1956

APPENDIX VIII.

TRAVELLING EXPENSES OF OFFICIALS ATTENDING MEETINGS OF O.E.E.C.

Cléireach,

An Coiste um Chuntais Phoiblí.

In the course of my examination before the Committee of Public Accounts on 11th July, 1957, I undertook to furnish a note dealing with the travelling expenses of officials attending meetings of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation.

A note is accordingly attached.

(Signed) SEÁN MURPHY,

Department of External Affairs.

24th July, 1957.

From the time of the establishment of O.E.E.C. in 1948 until recent months, most of the travelling expenses involved in the attendance of officials at meetings in Paris were incurred by officers of the Department of Agriculture and, accordingly, an arrangement was made whereby a provision for this purpose was included in the Estimate each year. In practice, there is no reason why any such travelling expenses incurred by officers of other Departments could not also be recouped from the Vote for International Co-operation, provided the amounts involved could be met from that Vote. In the financial year under review, a small sum was expended from Subhead B. 2 of the Vote for International Co-operation in respect of travelling expenses of an officer of the Department of the Taoiseach attending meetings of the O.E.E.C.

As a result of increased travelling by officers of the Department of Industry and Commerce to O.E.E.C. meetings in Paris, it may be that special provision will have to be made for such travelling in future Estimates. No such special provision was made in the Estimate for International Co-operation for 1955/56 in respect of officers of that Department.