FOI 65-25: Information regarding Paul Givan MLA's trip to Israel

Information Standards Freedom of Information Response

3 November 2025
Our ref: FoI 65-25

Freedom of Information Act 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission (Assembly Commission) has processed your request dated 29 October 2025 in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). Your request was as follows—

 

“Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I would like to request the following information:

  1. Whether Minister Paul Givan (MLA) travelled to Israel (or any part of Israel/Palestine) at public expense during his tenure as Minister for Education.

  2. If so, what was the total cost of that travel including flights, accommodation, subsistence and any other associated expenses, and the date(s) of travel.

  3. Which organisation or department funded that trip (for example: the Department of Education, the Education Authority, the Northern Ireland Executive, or other).

  4. Whether any other members of the Department of Education, or of the Education Authority, travelled to Israel (or any part of Israel/Palestine) at public expense during the same period; if so, their names, roles, date(s) of travel, and cost.”

 

Our response

The Assembly Commission did not organise or fund a trip to Israel by any member of the Assembly. The Assembly Commission accordingly does not hold information in relation to this request.

In order to provide advice and assistance under section 16 of the FOIA 2000,  the Assembly Commission would recommend that you contact The Executive Office on  foi@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk  who may hold information relevant to your request. You may also wish to note that details of Ministers' overseas travel are published to the Department for Finance open data scheme. 

 

Further Information

You may request an internal review of this decision by the Assembly Commission.  If you wish to request such a review, please write to me at the above address.  If, after that review, you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Assembly Commission has handled your request for information, you may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Your request for information and our response may be published in the disclosure log maintained by the Assembly Commission under a publication scheme agreed with the ICO. The request and our response will be anonymised.

 

Yours sincerely

 Information Standards