Today we can exclusively reveal that this was not the only example of Northern Ireland’s politicians living it up at our expense. We sent a freedom of information request asking for details of all travel taken by MLAs and their staff in 2010 and 2011. Here are some of the highlights:

• A trip to Washington DC to attend St Patrick’s Day events cost £6,243 for a hotel and flights
• A two night visit to Brussels to visit European institutions and attend a committee meeting cost taxpayers £7,427 and included a stay at the “deluxe” four-star Radisson EU Hotel
• A two night stay in Washington DC for the chair of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee and one member of staff cost £7,994. The travel cost alone of the visit amounted to £6,728
• Five MLAs and two staff visited Edinburgh and Brussels to meet the Scottish European Committee and the holders of the EU Presidency. The total cost of this three day trip was more than £9,000
• Two trips involved stays at the Hotel Missoni – a five-star hotel on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh
• Three MLAs made a two day visit to the National Ploughing Championships in the Republic of Ireland at a cost of £1,211.30.
• The Regional Development Committee even held a meeting on a train from Belfast to Dublin. To do this they had to book the entire carriage.

Many people in Northern Ireland feel the ruling elite is out of touch and out to milk taxpayers for as much as they can get. The information revealed in this FoI will not make them change their minds. It is not just that many of the trips made were unnecessary when you consider the other options available such as video conferencing. What really sticks in the throat is they have spared no expense when making those visits, staying at some of the best hotels in the world.

We hope that by revealing this information it will make MLAs think twice before contacting a travel agent and will stop them from spending our hard earned cash as if it was confetti.

Click here to see the full details of the travel expenses claimed by MLAs and their staff

Currently, MLAs receive a basic salary of £43,101. Those who are committee chairs get an extra £11,331, whilst their deputies receive an extra £5,667. Junior ministers get £19,609 on top of their basic salary; ministers an extra £37,801. The first and deputy first minsters are entitled to £114,535 each. 

The Independent Financial Review Panel (IFRP) has decided that MLAs should receive an increase in basic salary of 11%. This means pay will increase to £48,000. The rises are going to paid for out of cuts in office costs, however if the IFRP feels MLAs’ offices are overstaffed, this is hardly a justification for such large pay rises.

Many MLAs have said they should not receive a pay rise, and accept they should be setting an example. If they have any sense, will refuse the extra cash on offer. Time will tell how many do the right thing.