Commission Support & Compliance Unit

Northern Ireland

Assembly

Our Ref: 111-10 Mr Lee Canning Cardiff and Wales Tax Payer Alliance Coordinator Canning_lee@hotmail.com 21 December 2010 Dear Mr Canning Freedom of Information Act 2000 I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly holds the information which you requested on 22 November 2010. In your request you asked for the following information: -

“Under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, I wish to receive the following information from your authority: 1. A break down of all expenses incurred during the overseas trips listed below, 2. Copies of agenda's and minutes of meetings that occurred during these visits, 3. Outcomes of meetings, Meetings concerned include, 15-18 March 2010 - to Washington DC - William Hay and 1 Staff 15-18 March 2010 - to Washington DC - D Kennedy, N Long and 1 Staff 4. Details of expenses incurred for non-travel over the past 3 financial years”

On 14 December 2010 in clarifying your request you refined it, withdrawing question 4 “Details of expenses incurred for non-travel over the past 3 financial years” Please refer to the information provided at Appendix A. If you feel that the information we have provided does not meet your request fully please contact this office as soon as possible. You have the right to request a formal

Room 152, Parliament Buildings Ballymiscaw

Stormont Belfast, BT4 3XX

Tel: +44 (0) 28 9052 1147 Fax: +44 (0) 28 90418340

e-mail: foi@niassembly.gov.uk

review by the Northern Ireland Assembly and if you wish to do so, please write to me at the above address. If after such an internal review you are still unhappy with the response, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF who will undertake an independent review. If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above. Yours sincerely

Aoibheann Baker FOI Unit

Appendix A 1. A break down of all expenses incurred during the overseas trips listed below,

Meetings concerned include, 15-18 March 2010 - to Washington DC - William Hay and 1 Staff 15-18 March 2010 - to Washington DC - D Kennedy, N Long and 1 Staff

Date Destination Names Total Flights Total Hotels Other Costs Grand Total 15-18 March 2010 Washington DC William Hay MLA

1 Staff £2,976.92 £1,068.46 £217.03 £4,262.41

15-18 March 2010 Washington DC Danny Kennedy MLA Naomi Long ML 1 Staff

£4,465.38 £1,602.69 £408.97 £6,477.04

Questions 2 & 3 will be answered together.

2. Copies of agenda's and minutes of meetings that occurred during these visits, 3. Outcomes of meetings, Meetings concerned include, 15-18 March 2010 - to Washington DC - William Hay and 1 Staff

In relation to;

• Copies of agenda’s of meetings concerned, • Copies of minutes of meetings concerned, • Outcomes of meetings concerned,

15-18 March 2010, no formal meetings took place, therefore no minutes exist. The Speaker visited Washington at the invitation of the First and Deputy First Minister and represented the Northern Ireland Assembly. However for your convenience I attach a copy of the Speakers itinerary during his visit.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

SPEAKER

ADVISER TO SPEAKER

12.30

Trade Mission Business Lunch to be hosted by Minister Arlene Foster – Willard Hotel

Trade Mission Business Lunch to be hosted by Minister Arlene Foster – Willard Hotel

2.45-3.45pm

Northern Ireland Business Briefing Roundtable – Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center – The Rotunda Room

Northern Ireland Business Briefing Roundtable – Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center – The Rotunda Room

6:30pm

VIP Reception for American Ireland Fund Dinner – Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Centre –

6:30pm American Ireland Fund Dinner – Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Centre

American Ireland Fund Dinner – Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Centre

Wednesday 17 March 2010

8:00am

NI Bureau Breakfast Event – US Chamber of Commerce building – 1615 H Street, NW

NI Bureau Breakfast Event - US Chamber of Commerce building – 1615 H Street, NW

Noon

Speaker’s Lunch (Capitol Hill)

3:00-4:30pm 2010 Northern Ireland Roundtable, convened by former Envoys Mitchell Reiss and Paula Dobrianski, on behalf of the College of William and Mary and the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Room 1026 of the SEIU building at 1800 N.W., Washington DC, 20036

2010 Northern Ireland Roundtable, convened by former Envoys Mitchell Reiss and Paula Dobrianski, on behalf of the College of William and Mary and the Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Room 1026 of the SEIU building at 1800 N.W., Washington DC, 20036

5:00pm

Irish Embassy Reception at St. Regis Hotel – 923 16th and K Street

Irish Embassy Reception at St. Regis Hotel – 923 16th and K Street

6:00pm White House Evening Reception

Thursday 18 March 2010

8:30am Congressional Breakfast Reception on Capitol Hill – Speaker to announce formation of NI Assembly All-Party USA Group – NI Politicians Invited

Congressional Breakfast Reception on Capitol Hill – Speaker to announce formation of NI Assembly All-Party USA Group – NI Politicians Invited

AM/PM Meeting/Meetings with Senators

Meeting/Meetings with Senators

PM Airport – Flight to Belfast

Airport – Flight to Belfast

15-18 March 2010 - to Washington DC - D Kennedy, N Long and 1 Staff

In relation to;

• Copies of agenda’s of meetings concerned, • Copies of minutes of meetings concerned, • Outcomes of meetings concerned,

15-18 March 2010, no formal meetings took place, therefore no minutes exist. However for your convenience I attach a copy of the itinerary for Mr Danny Kennedy MLA and Mrs Naomi Long MP during their visit.

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Mr Danny Kennedy Mrs Naomi Long

Noon

Willard Hotel Business lunch hosted by DETI Minister, Arlene Foster, MLA

Willard Hotel Business lunch hosted by DETI Minister, Arlene Foster, MLA

15.00pm

Ronald Regan International Trade Center US/NI Business Round Table Host Declan Kelly, US Economic Adviser.

Ronald Regan International Trade Center US/NI Business Round Table Host Declan Kelly, US Economic Adviser.

16.00pm Ronald Reagan International Trade Centre

Ronald Reagan International Trade Centre

18.30pm Ronald Reagan International Trade Centre–American Ireland Fund Gala Dinner Honoree: Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton

Ronald Reagan International Trade Centre–American Ireland Fund Gala Dinner Honoree: Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton

Wednesday 17 March 2010

08.00 US Chamber of Commerce NI Bureau Breakfast

US Chamber of Commerce NI Bureau Breakfast

Noon Capitol Hill US Speaker’s Lunch Capitol Hill US Speaker’s Lunch

15.00pm 2010 Northern Ireland Roundtable

2010 Northern Ireland Roundtable

17.30pm Mr Kennedy did not go to the White House Reception as the White House was only allowing one person from each political party to attend and the UUP party leader attended.

The White House Reception

18.30pm Irish Ambassador’s Reception Irish Ambassador’s Reception

Thursday 18 March 2010 08.00am Capitol Hill Capitol Hill