Varadkar to probe €20,000 spend on VIP airport facilities for Robinson and Geoghegan Quinn

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has promised to examine whether taxpayers' money is used to provide VIP facilities at Dublin Airport for former and current office holders.

It emerged yesterday that almost €20,000 was spent on the facilities in the last six months of 2012 for former President Mary Robinson and European Commissioner Máire Geoghegan Quinn.

They used the facilities on 56 and 22 occasions respectively between July and December last, with the costs paid for from the Taoiseach's budget.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said he would look into the expenditure.

"That's the first I've heard of that - it's entirely news to me. I don’t know whether it's provided as a courtesy or whether the taxpayer pays for it. I'll certainly look into it," he said.