After much foot-dragging, the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers have released the cost [to date – Ed] of their 12-day March junket trip to Brazil and the USA to “Develop and promote political, investment, trade, university and tourism links” – an eye-watering £155,509. As Mark Devenport tweeted
So were FM and DFM’s recent investment trips value for money? Costs breakdown published here tinyurl.com/c75mymq
— Mark Devenport (@markdevenport) May 16, 2013
It’s difficult to answer the ‘value-for-money’ question in the absence of specific targets, or directly related outcomes. Whether the spending itself was lavish may be another matter…
The first OFMDFM “biannual” report covers the period from April 2012 to March 2013 [pdf file] and includes trips by NI junior Ministers to Brussels as well as an OFMDFM trip to Texas in February, another to the United Arab Emirates and India in April last year, and China in November. Total cost – including flights, transport, and other costs including accommodation – £357,042.
For the March trip to the Americas the costs are broken down, somewhat, as follows:
Delegation – First Minister, deputy First Minister, 2 Private Secretaries, 2 Special Advisers, 2 Press Officers, and Photographer(contracted)
Flights – £109,892 (9 x 8 flights)
Transport – £6,790 (invoices received to date)
Other costs including accomodation – £38,827
Total cost – £155,509
For the 6-day trip to China in November last year
Delegation – First Minister, deputy First Minister, Junior Minister Bell, 2 Private Secretaries, 2 Special Advisers, 2 Press Officers, and Photographer(contracted)
Flights – £57,814 (10 x 5 flights)
Transport – £4,404
Other costs including accomodation – £19,800
Total cost – £82,018
Well see if any economies are made on their next trip to China…
For the 5-day trip to the United Arab Emirates and India in April last year
Delegation – First Minister, deputy First Minister, 2 Private Secretaries, 2 Special Advisers, 1 Press Officer, and Photographer(contracted)
Flights – £36,122 (8 x 6 flights)
Other costs including accomodation – £7,704
Total cost – £43,826
And the 8-day trip to Texas in February
Delegation – First Minister, deputy First Minister, 2 Private Secretaries, 2 Special Advisers
Flights – £49,476 (6 x 6 flights)
Transport – £3,352
Other costs including accomodation – £6,670
Total cost – £59,498
On some of those trips, United Arab Emirates, India, Shanghai and Hong Kong, other NI Executive Ministers will also have incurred costs.
Almost forgot, the post title is just a reminder to the First and deputy First Ministers of something they said in 2009…
Peter Robinson said: “A principle of good governance is that it should be as open and transparent as possible, and I believe that our commitment to that principle is demonstrated in practical terms by the solid performance of our Departments in responding to the steady stream of requests for information.”
Complementing the comments of the First Minister, Mr McGuinness also expressed his satisfaction that Departments here had performed consistently well in responding to requests over the last four years.
Mr McGuinness said: ‘Freedom of Information, openness and transparency are central to the democratic process. I am pleased that all our Departments continue to recognise this and meet the need to deliver timely information’.
Adds They say that travel broadens the mind. Not much evidence of that here…
