ECONOMIC FORUM:THE COST of holding the Global Irish Economic Forum in Farmleigh in September 2009 was €330,000, the Comptroller and Auditor General has revealed in his report.
The forum examined ways in which Ireland and its diaspora could develop a more strategic relationship and promote the country with particular reference to economic recovery.
Following the forum a global network was established which is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The comptroller concluded some €233,000 of the overall cost of the forum was met from the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme.
A further €34,000 was spent during 2010 “to hold ministerial meetings with members of the network at various international venues”.
Some 200 people attended the forum with individual participants identified by Ireland’s diplomatic missions around the world and by the main State agencies in the economic sectors.
The figures released in the report show some €72,539 was attributed to “site costs”, with €61,441 spent on catering.
Hotel accommodation accounted for €37,700, conference meals came to €35,780 while audio-visual costs were €32,185.
“Facilitation and moderation” came to €23,894, transport costs were €17,930 and website costs came to €15,992.
Miscellaneous items came in at €32,662.
According to the department’s accounting officer, participants paid their own travel costs and the accommodation provided by the department was chosen at hotels close to the venue at an average of less than €100 per night.
The comptroller concluded there was “a reasonable level of tracking and reporting on the proposals of participants and it would be useful to evaluate the overall contribution of the concept and opportunities to further exploit the networks”.
