€380 , 000 IS AFFAIR AMOUNT TO SPEND
Foreign Department’s catering and wine bill for looking after visiting dignitaries
TAXPAYERS forked out more than €380,000 to keep visiting dignitaries topped up with food and wine, the Irish Mirror can reveal.
Documents show there were 212 events listed in almost eight years between January 2015 and last October.
During this time, the Department of Foreign Affairs spent €334,559.88 on catering.
This was spread across working breakfasts, lunches and dinners; State and official visits; evening receptions, royal visits and farewell lunches.
A further €50,007.74 was spent on wine during that period bringing the total to €384,567.62.
They said an individual breakdown of wine for each event was not available because “the Department holds a stock” and then “draws down” for each event when needed.
The listed events were hosted in Iveagh House near St Stephen’s Green with some State and official visits involving catering in Farmleigh too – the official Irish State guest house.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said “tenders for each catered event and the contract is awarded to the most economically advantageous tender”.
When they released the documents following a freedom of information request, they said hospitality was “organised by this Department’s Protocol Division and lunches, dinners, and receptions hosted in support of Ireland’s interest”.
They added: “These events supported the work of the Department and Government on priorities such as the advancement of reconciliation and cooperation, the promotion of Ireland’s values and priorities on global themes.
“Official hospitality plays an important role in the promotion of a positive image of Ireland internationally and in the further development and strengthening of bilateral political, economic and foreign earnings and cultural links with the countries and international organisations concerned.
“Such official hospitality at ministerial level is a routine and expected part of international diplomatic exchanges and reflects reciprocity with other states.
“Cost savings are always sought where possible. Business is allocated based on the most economically advantageous proposal for each assignment.”
Over the period, officials held 72 “working lunches” which cost €63,065.37.
One was for the US Congressional Delegation in 2019 when €1,928.41 was spent. In another, from 2017, the French Foreign Minister was listed as guest of honour and the document shows €845.17 was spent. And €34,868.82 was forked out on 22 “working dinners” and
€72,079.77 was the bill after 12 State visits. One of these was a €5,783.32 charge for the Cypriot President’s Nicos Anastasiades State visit to Ireland and a €6,042.56 bill for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s trip.
Some “working dinners” listed are with the New Jersey Governor, the Dutch Foreign Minister, and the Former Governor of the Bank of England.
The majority of the hospitality events listed would have been hosted by the Foreign Affairs Minister but some events may have been by other Government Ministers at Iveagh House.
Previous Foreign Affairs Ministers include Charles Flanagan and Simon Coveney. Former Taoiseach, Tanaiste Micheal Martin became Foreign Affairs Minister last month.
Also listed in the documents is Prince William and Kate’s visit to Ireland in March 2020. The catering costs for that Royal Visit came in at €21,906.96.
The bill for Portugal’s State Visit came to €7,707.36 while a “US Congressional event GPO hosted by An Tanaiste” came in at €13,749.56.