The credit union movement has not determined the cost of sending 86 delegates to a conference in Poland despite agreeing to pay their expenses.
The delegates from the Irish movement, which claims to be in reform mode, were accompanied by 44 companions. Their attendance was sanctioned despite the loss last year of €37 million on a bungled computer project and a highly critical review of the movement which cited "widespread disaffection" and said confidence and trust were at a low ebb.
Only Poland and the US sent more delegates than the Irish movement. British credit unions sent 15 delegates. The movement in Canada sent 21, while German and French groups sent one each.
The three-day conference in Warsaw begins tomorrow. It is titled "differentiation, members first". Five principal speakers include former Polish president Mr Lech Walesa and a writer-comedienne, Ms Jasmine Birtles, whose presentation is titled "corporate responsibility and other laughing matters".
A spokeswoman for the Irish League of Credit Unions said the cost of Irish representation at the conference had not been collated. Neither had the number of Irish delegates been quantified, she said.
However, a list on the official website of the Sixth International Credit Union Leadership Institute and World Council of Credit Union's a.g.m. cited the national groups were represented by 563 attendees and 167 companies.
Conference documentation put the cost of representation by delegates at €1,021-€1,175 and companions at €487. Delegates stayed at the Marriott Hotel at a room rate of €148 per night.
A spokeswoman said the league's president, Mr John O'Regan, had no comment when asked how the heavy representation from the Irish movement could be justified in the light of its commitment to reform and the losses on its computer project.
In a statement he said: "The purpose of the international credit union leadership institute a.g.m. is to provide a forum to share ideas and for members of credit unions from around the world to learn from each other.
"The conference comprises a series of seminars, workshops and meetings."
He added: "All the credit union movement delegates at this conference are here on business. All these people are here on their own time and they are working in a voluntary capacity over this period. The expenses incurred by delegates in conference business will be reimbursed by their respective credit unions. The Irish League of Credit Unions will be responsible for the expenses incurred by its delegates in conference business."
