The Irish League of Credit Unions has claimed it should receive praise because 86 delegates from the movement attended a recent conference in Poland with 44 companions.
The attendance fee was €1,021-€1,175 per delegate and partners were charged €487. Delegates stayed at the Marriott Hotel at a room rate of €148 per night.
An editorial in a magazine published by the movement, which claims to be in reform mode, described what it said were "negative" press reports as a "sad reminder of how certain sections of the media seem hell-bent on showing worthwhile initiatives ... in the worst possible light".
The league and affiliated unions met the expenses of the 130 Irish attendees.
Only the US and Poland sent more delegates than the Irish movement to the three-day conference in Warsaw, which began on June 26th. British credit unions sent 15 delegates. The movement in Canada sent 21 while German and French groups sent one each.
The editorial in the latest Credit Union Review said: "The fact the event in question was intended to provide up-to-the-minute information on trends in the credit union movement worldwide would lead one to expect that the attendance by delegates from individual credit unions as well as the league board would receive praise rather than criticism."
The attendance by 130 individuals linked to the Irish movement followed a highly critical review which cited "widespread disaffection" and said confidence and trust were at a low ebb.
The movement lost €37 million last year on a bungled computer project. One of its aims is to promote thrift.
The league, which co-ordinates the activities of 530 affiliated unions, sent 11 of its officials to the conference. They were accompanied by 10 companions.
A spokesman said the expense incurred by those 21 people was €56,000. The expenses of the other 109 figures will be met by their individual credit unions.
The league's president, Mr John O'Regan, claimed participation in international conferences was "very important". He said: "The money was well spent. Ninety per cent of the people who were there are volunteers, board members, who have done tremendous work for the league and the credit union movement down the years."
He added: "This is an international conference attended by every credit union movement in the world and is a great opportunity to learn about best practice elsewhere and to sit down with our counterparts from other movements and develop ties."
Attended by 730 delegates and companions, the conference was titled "differentiation, members first".
Speakers included the former Polish president Mr Lech Walesa and a writer-comedienne, Ms Jasmine Birtles. Her presentation was titled "corporate responsibility and other laughing matters".
