Hogan and officials run up €9,000 expenses in day trip

Environment Minister Phil Hogan and four of his officials racked up €9,000 in expenses during a 24-hour trip to a European Council meeting in Luxembourg last summer.

They travelled business class and stayed in a five-star hotel, bringing the total travel expenses for the department to almost €92,000 since Mr Hogan took office in Mar 2011.

Expense claims released under the Freedom of Information Act to a Sunday newspaper show travel to the EU Council meeting on Jun 20 last year cost €6,698 in flights alone.