THE COST of Tánaiste Mary Coughlan’s accommodation and air travel during a three-day trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year amounted to almost €5,000, including hotel costs of over €750 per night.
The Tánaiste took part in the trade mission to Dubai and Abu-Dhabi in the UAE in November of 2008 with State agency Enterprise Ireland bearing the costs of air travel and hotel accommodation.
In documentation, made available under the Freedom of Information Act, Enterprise Ireland discloses that Ms Coughlan’s hotel bill for three nights amounted to €2,293, or about €764 per night. The business-class flight cost a further €2,293. Other expenses for the trip were met by the Department of Enterprise and have not been disclosed.
During the course of the trip, Ms Coughlan opened a new campus of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dubai.
According to Enterprise Ireland, some €40 million of contracts and agreements were signed during the mission which was led by Ms Coughlan. The agency also released information in relation to another trade mission by the Tánaiste, this one was a five-day visit to Qatar and Saudi Arabia in April of this year. The hotel costs for five nights came to a more modest €1,444.50 for Ms Coughlan, or €355 per night.
The trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar involved 64 Irish companies and organisations. Enterprise Ireland said the purpose of the mission was “to increase awareness of Ireland in the Gulf region as a source of world class products and services”. It also said it was used to develop new business opportunities with existing and potential customers and partners.
According to Enterprise Ireland, the cost of air travel for this trip was the responsibility of the Department of Enterprise and Employment. In a general comment on trade missions, Enterprise Ireland said in its response that they have been highly effective to grow export sales and that every exporting country in the world has similar programmes of trade missions and events.
The agency’s travel policy is that economy is the normal mode for air travel and that its normal standard of accommodation is three or four star.