Taoiseach’s St Patrick’s Day trip to the US cost taxpayer over €33,500

Figures provided by the Department of an Taoiseach show that the cost to the taxpayer of flying Enda Kenny, his wife Fionnuala, and his staff to the US for St Patrick Day events totalled €33,555.

A spend of €3,602 on return Washington flights for Mr Kenny’s wife to join her husband for his St Patrick’s Day swan song at the White House was part of a €101,000 global travel bill for the national holiday.

It cost the taxpayer €6,842 for Dublin-Philadelphia-Boston-Washington-New York-Dublin flights for Mr Kenny from March 11 to 17. Flights for his private secretary and chief of staff also cost €6,842 each. However, the same flight itinerary for the Taoiseach’s special advisor cost €1,627, while the same flights for the Government press secretary cost the taxpayer €1,587.