Taxpayer foots €31,384 bill for Philippines junket

EIGHT politicians have flown to the Philippines to attend a global conference this week, costing the taxpayer €31,384.

The six TDs and two Senators comprise the Irish delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Manila - an international talking shop that is a forum for debating global issues.

Seanad chairman Senator Rory Kiely is leading the delegation, which also includes Cork TDs Billy Kelleher and Danny Wallace as well as deputies Cecilia Keaveney, Martin Brady, John Perry, Paddy McHugh and Senator Don Lydon.

They are be among 700 legislators from 140 parliaments discussing global issues like sentencing for war crimes, genocide, terrorism and preventing a HIV/AIDS pandemic.

But the IPU Assembly is only a talking shop and does not have any influence on world affairs because sovereign governments do not have to take note of what it decides.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said we have to question the value for money the Irish taxpayer is getting from this poorly publicised “junket”.

He said a full report of the trip should be compiled by the politicians on their return so the public can decide if the taxpayer got value for money.

The Oireachtas press office, which organised the trip, confirmed it cost €3,923 each for travel, hotel accommodation and subsistence - is expenses politicians get going on the trip for which they have to produce receipts.