McWilliams defends being paid €10,000 for think-in

LEADING economist David McWilliams has defended being paid €10,000 for the Farmleigh economic think-in, claiming waiving the fee would be like “asking a plumber to fix your drains for nothing”.

Speaking after it emerged he was paid the sum for organising the high-profile business event, Mr McWilliams said that it was unreasonable to assume he would not be paid for taking part.

The broadcaster confirmed other participants did not receive money for transport costs or attendance at the event, organised to help “reboot” the Irish economy.

However, the presenter of RTÉ’s Addicted to Money insisted he did not believe his own fee should have been waived.

“The people who didn’t receive any payments were representing very large international companies. I was representing myself.

“Asking me not to receive any payment is like asking a plumber to fix your drains for nothing, and if you can find a plumber who will do that then I’d be surprised,” Mr McWilliams said.

The response came after another leading economist, Jim Power, said it was “despicable” for Mr McWilliams to make his private meeting with Finance Minister Brian Lenihan public.

Speaking at the annual Ceifin conference in Ennis, Mr Power said the move exposed Mr Lenihan “to an incredibly low trick”.

While other attendees at the Global Irish Economic Forum conference did not receive any money to attend, official figures confirm Mr McWilliams was paid to participate.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs Freedom of Information figures, the economist received €4,000 for moderating two discussions at the Irish business diaspora conference and was paid a further €6,000 for “consultancy and promotional activities”.

The total cost of the event was €309,515, including a cultural trip to Croke Park costing €13,000 and during which 94 delegates watched the All-Ireland football final between Cork and Kerry on September 20.

Tickets for the group cost €6,580, while a lunch reception and programmes cost a further €6,833.

Although participants such as Denis O’Brien, Bob Geldof and filmmaker Neil Jordan paid their own transport costs for the conference, others requiring overnight accommodation were booked into rooms at four-star hotels including the Castleknock Hotel and country club and the Kilmainham Hilton in Dublin.

This cost a total of €38,200.

A website for the event cost €11,000 to produce, while recording and photographing the conference cost a further €30,000.