TD denies trip to Australia conference a 'mega-junket'

A trip to Australia last week by four TDs was "no fun" and definitely not a junket, according to the chairman of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee.

Mr John Perry said he and the other PAC members flew "economy class" to attend a conference of the Australian council of public accounts committees in Melbourne.

Although they stayed at the city's opulent Grand Hyatt hotel, Mr Perry added that their rooms cost only US$95 a night, "including breakfast".

He was responding to claims in the Sunday World that the group had indulged in a 10-day "mega-junket" costing over $20,000.

The Fine Gael TD was accompanied by Fianna Fáil TDs Mr Sean Ardagh, Mr Batt O'Keeffe and Mr John Curran, and by the PAC secretary, Mr Derek Dignam.

Mr Perry said the conference had been recommended as "very important" by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr John Purcell.

In travelling economy, the PAC delegation had set a "precedent", he added - "it's no fun on a 22-hour trip" - and the number who travelled was the minimum necessary to cover the conference's heavy schedule.

A particular focus for the visitors was the Australians' "accrual system" of accountancy, which seemed to be a more efficient way of distributing public funds than the voted estimates used here.

Mr Perry could not give a figure for the total cost of the trip, but said air fares for the KLM flight were €2,200 each.

Typical workshops at the conference included "budget sector transparency in accrual output-based budgeting" and "developing an ethics culture in the public sector".

According to the programme, extra-curricular activities included dinner at the Rippon Lea National Trust mansion, with "pre-dinner poolside drinks," a Latin jazz band and "the opportunity to explore the five hectares of beautiful gardens with its ornamental lake and numerous bridges".

However, Mr Perry said the PAC delegation "attended none of the arranged tours".

The trip was also defended yesterday by one of the Fianna Fáil committee members who did not travel.

The outspoken Carlow-Kilkenny TD, Mr John McGuinness, said there had been a consensus in the committee that the conference was worth attending.

"The chairman will be making a full report about it afterwards, unlike what happens with some trips," he added.