World Economic Forum Davos - Give it a miss

Is next month’s annual billionaire’s gala also known as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in the Taoiseach’s diary? If it is, should he ask himself if his journey is really necessary?

Our Government’s delegation last year comprised the Taoiseach and the finance minister, plus no fewer than six servants to carry their bags and very important folders, and the tab picked up by the State was a few cent south of €19,000 in travel and hotel costs.

What the State got for its money has yet to be made known, as is the extent to which — after 49 of these shindigs on the slopes — the forum has succeeded in achieving anything close to what it says is it’s “improving the state-of-the-world” mission.

There will be no UK government officials at the forum, its prime minister having decided there are more pressing matters at home. It’s to be hoped that Mr Varadkar too reckons this is one Swiss trip he could miss.

Ireland’s interests, surely, will be looked after by the European Commission and European Council delegates who will certainly be there.