Irish embassy in Beijing spends €624k on renovation

An outlay of almost €11,000 on garden and terrace furniture at the Irish embassy in Beijing has brought the total to €624,218 over the last two years.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, in response to a Freedom of Information request, revealed €10,990 had been spent on outdoor garden and terrace furniture at the embassy last November, and in December 2013.

The spend of €1,808 on the replacement of outdoor furniture in November was part of an €82,421 spending spree over 21 days in the lead-up to a week-long State visit by President Michael D Higgins to China.

The purchase of new items, ranging from new rugs and new doors to a presidential podium, the restoration of an antique table, new blinds, and to mounting art, contributed to the €80,000-plus spend from November 12 to December 3, when the embassy spend included €4,303 on “deep cleaning” for the State visit.

The spending contributed to upgrade costs at the embassy soaring by 41% or €106,356 from €258,931 in 2013 to €365,287 in 2014, with the spend over the 21 days representing 27% of the 2014 outlay.

A spokeswoman for the department said yesterday that the garden furniture spend in 2013 included armchairs, eight dining chairs and a dining table, along with a table and four stools. The embassy spent a further €1,000 on 15 vases in December 2013.

Ahead of President Higgins’ visit last December 7, the embassy spent €1,580 on a presidential podium; €1,497 on the “framing and mounting of art”; €1,018 on the restoration of an antique table; €7,030 on the replacement of doors at the embassy; and chancery and €8,633 on doors replaced at the chancery representation area. The embassy further spent €3,523 on rugs, with an additional €3,518 spent on rugs at the Chancery.

An upgrade of staff quarters cost €30,243 to comply with health and safety regulations.

Throughout 2014, the embassy incurred gardening contract costs and the spend on three quarterly payments totalled €5,329.

In addition, the embassy spent €13,263 in May 2014 on the renovation works for two toilets concerning plumbing, tiling, and upgrade costs.

The records show that the embassy, after President Higgins departed, spent another €49,035 on December 24 on the modernisation of a first-floor bathroom and extension to a patio and outdoor space at the residence building.

In February of last year, the embassy spent €3,287 on linen and towels for the embassy’s residence.

The spokeswoman for the department said the embassy, including the official accommodation, had been built in the early 1950s and “in the 15 years or so prior to 2013, the buildings had seen only minimal, periodic maintenance”.

“As a consequence of wear and tear over many years in the demanding climate and atmospheric conditions of Beijing, they needed extensive refurbishment to make them fit for purpose.”

She pointed out that the embassy in Beijing played a critical role in promoting Ireland’s diverse interests and priorities in China, that include trade, investment, education, science, technology, culture, and tourism.

“This is because in dealing with China, state-to-state and government-to-government, relations are crucially important,” she added.

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