The Department of Foreign Affairs has spent more than €70,000 on VIP airport services for visiting dignitaries travelling to Ireland over the past year.
The €71,613 bill covered the costs of 38 separate invoices, which included trips by heads of state and high-ranking officials from world organisations on official and private visits to Ireland.
Details of eight trips have been withheld by the department who said their disclosure could “adversely affect the security and international relations of the State.”
The department also said it had secured a “preferential rate” for Platinum Services at Dublin Airport, which provides private check-in and security, suites for relaxation, refreshments, as well as transport to and from a plane.
The largest bill was €12,540 spent during the visit of French prime minister Élisabeth Borne and four of her government ministers during a trip to Ireland in November 2023.
A sum of €8,778 was paid for a “ramp transfer” for the arrival of Li Qiang, the premier of China, who visited with a delegation in January this year.
Other sizeable bills included €4,170 for the visit of the Croatian prime minister in September 2023 and nearly €8,800 when the Spanish prime minister came to Ireland in April.
Platinum services were also provided at a cost of around €1,800 when Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of World Health Organisation, visited in January.
A private visit by the President of Iceland was also facilitated in July with a bill of around €1,500 incurred for that trip.
The department said VIP services had only been used at Dublin Airport and said that any costs incurred arising from travel undertaken by President Michael D Higgins had also been withheld under Freedom of Information laws.
An information note on the expenditure said that Platinum Services were used to facilitate state business for official trips and for “appropriate welcome and farewell” for senior members of the foreign diplomatic corps.
It said: “The [department] avails of a preferential rate with Platinum Services at Dublin Airport for activities of this nature.
“This practice is in line with international standards of official protocol, as well as serving practical and operational purposes. The use of airport VIP facilities mitigates risks to [security] … and ensures discretion.
“Swift transit through the airport also ensures that foreign dignitaries can maximise their official programmes in Ireland.”
