Cost of Environment Minister's trip to Brazil criticised

Six Irish officials are reported to be traveling to a conference in Brazil with the Environment Minister Phil Hogan costing the taxpayer more than €10,000.

According to the Daily Mail, the Irish delegation for the UN conference on sustainable development will stay at a luxury Sheraton resort hotel in Rio, close to the famous Ipaneama beach.

Their trip comes amid controversy at a proposal to collect the new Property tax directly from PAYE workers wages.

Councillor Ruth Coppinger has criticised the cost of the conference, highlighting how manyHousehold Charges it will take to cover the €10,000 bill.