Party bill at Irish embassies hits more than €3m

by Fiach Kelly

THE Government spent more than €3m on official entertainment -- including throwing parties and hosting special receptions -- at Irish embassies around the world last year.

But despite the straitened economic times, both the Government and opposition politicians last night defended the spend, maintaining that it represented good value for money.

Figures obtained by the Irish Independent under the Freedom of Information Act show that the bulk of the bill for running our embassies abroad went on wages and salaries for staff.

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