Dáil watchdog shocked at SIPTU ‘slush fund’ junkets

OVER years when health services were creaking, a fund controlled by a SIPTU official funded lavish overseas junkets for senior trade union officials and public servants, the Dáil public spending watchdog heard yesterday.

The chairman of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee (PAC) John McGuinness expressed concern that many of the supposed visits to places like the US and Canada for training and development occurred around St Patrick’s Day.

Mr McGuinness questioned if such tours were “just jollies” because of their proximity to March 17 each year.