State pays €10,000 to replenish wine cellar

THE Department of Foreign Affairs spent almost €10,000 replenishing its wine cellars.

New figures released to the Irish Independent reveal the majority of the €10,069 spent on alcohol went on wine, with just €339.15 spent on beer and spirits.

When it comes to which wine is more popular, it seems that white wine wins hands down. Overall, 360 bottles of red wine and 490 bottles of white wine were bought last year.

The department said this put the average price per bottle at €11.44.

“At the most recent stocktake, a total of 1,305 bottles of wine were in stores,” according to a spokesperson for the department.

Its figures show that a total of 178 events were held in Iveagh House last year, and a further six were hosted in Farmleigh, which is situated in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.

However, despite the price tag, the department has insisted that value for money is taken into account when alcohol stocks are being replenished.

“These events supported a broad range of Government priorities, such as the advancement of reconciliation and co-operation on this island, the promotion of Ireland’s values and priorities on global themes, the promotion of Ireland’s bilateral relations including political and economic interests, and cultural events, with an international dimension,” the spokesperson said.

The figures revealed that in the course of 2017, some €10,069.27 was spent on maintaining stocks at both Iveagh House and Farmleigh.

The department said that it maintains a “limited stock of wine purchased at a significant discount, relative to the cost of purchasing it from caterers on an ad-hoc basis”.

“Stocks are procured with due regard to the need to ensure value for money and appropriate quality and fitness for purpose. In line with all expenditure practices of this department, the purchase of new stock is assessed carefully, and kept under continuing review to ensure value for money,” the department said.