Govt seeks sponsorship to cover EU Presidency costs

The Government is to seek sponsorship from private companies to cover some of the costs of hosting the Presidency of the EU for six months next year.

€60m will be spent on the Presidency, but Europe Minister Lucinda Creighton said costs would be cut significantly from the €90m spent during the last rotation of the presidency to Ireland in 2004.

The Government is to host 170 meetings, all of which will take place in state-owned buildings in a bid to save money.

Minister Creighton said the Government was also seeking sponsorship to cover some of the costs.

"We have invited sponsorship proposals from the private sector…We're hoping that there will be opportunity for some companies to showcase their services or products but also help us as a Government to reduce our costs," she said.