Waterford Crystal tops State’s gift list

Successive taoisigh have given over €38,000 worth of state gifts to foreign dignitaries over the past 10 years, including 52 pieces of Waterford Crystal, an Aran sweater and CDs.

The most expensive gift was a crystal dragon worth €1,972.50 given to Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan by the then taoiseach Bertie Ahern when they visited Ireland at the height of the Celtic Tiger in May 2005.

The most hard done-by dignitary appears to have been the Latvian prime minister, Valdis Dombrovskis, who last June received a Foxford woollen scarf from visiting Taoiseach Enda Kenny worth just €17.05.