Article on Leinster House revamp branded 'opportunist'

A newspaper article claiming the taxpayer has footed a €9m revamp of Leinster House was this evening branded as "opportunist".

The Evening Herald claimed that, among other things, €100,000 was spent on refurbishing two toilets for deputies, €61,000 on a Waterford Crystal chandelier, and €1m on a restaurant.

A statement from the Communications Department of the Houses of Oireachtas this evening said the article failed to take account of the fact the work was carried out over a six-year period.

It added Leinster House was a very old building which continually needed to be maintained and upgraded as a workplace and for the 100,000 public visitors each year.