New ministers ask for swanky iPhones, printers and chairs

A SELECTION of new iPhones, a

€15 kettle and a special back-friendly desk chair were among the items ordered by ministers on their appointments earlier this year.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (below) got a new iPhone with a protective cover after taking office at a cost of €898.17. A spokesman for his department said: “Staff and office holders are assigned equipment from stock as required to enable them to carry out their official functions.”

Junior Minister John

Paul Phelan at the Department of Housing had slightly more complicated tastes as he requested a €15 kettle and two shredders at a combined cost of

€520. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy’s long wish list from his personal assistant included four computer suites, a TV with access to coverage of Leinster House, a “heavy-duty” colour printer and scanner, and somewhere to put around 20 boxes the minister wanted to store.

At the Department of Social Protection, the only purchases were for two chairs on behalf of Minister Regina Doherty and a staff member.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney got a new iPhone and iPad along with cases, screen protectors, and a power pack at a total cost of €1,965. At the Department of Communications, an iPad for Minister Denis Naughten was bought at a bargain basement price of €323.