Mayor Councillor Mike Cubbard
Galway City Council has committed to changing their standard of practice for airport transfers after the mayor’s visit to Morocco in January costed the local authority €800 in airport transfers.
A report from Galway City Council shows that an external chauffer service was hired by administrative staff costing €400 each way to Dublin airport.
In a statement, the local authority said Mayor Mike Cubbard was not involved in the booking or aware of the cost.
At this time, a review of the over expenditure is in process according to a Galway City Council spokesperson.
Public transport will now be a default method of travel to airports and chauffer services will only be used in “exceptional circumstances,” they said.
Furthermore, the report shows additional expenses for the council during the trip, such as accommodation, which was booked by Moroccan officials with safety considerations.
Two cash tips “declared in good faith” and “in accordance with local custom” were given by Mayor Cubbard to concierge servicers and one driver. Receipts are not normally available for gratuity exchanges, and the local authority is not seeking reimbursement for them.
Additionally, a chauffeured car was made available for the trip at the expense of the Moroccan Embassy.
As a cultural representative, the exchange of relevant gifts is best practice. Mayor Cubbard brought items highlighting local artists and the Irish language including Connemara Blue glassware and Galway-based socks from Irish Socksciety.
The value of the gifts was reported to be approximately €355 combined.
During the trip, Mayor Cubbard and an accompanying executive officer met with the Acting Mayor of Agadir, Mostafa Bouderka, and attended a number of engagements with tourism and chamber of commerce organisations in the region.
Galway City Council chose to travel to Morocco as a tourism and culture hub in the West, as the European Union remains its leading trade partner and largest foreign investor. An invitation was extended by the Moroccan Embassy in Ireland and the Souss Massa Regional President to further international relations.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme.