Government departments ring up costs for ‘executive travel’ as €280k spend at airports on VIP services

More than €280,000 has been spent by two Government departments on VIP services at Irish airports over the past three years.

This figure includes facilities for European Commissioner Phil Hogan, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and more than €30,000 in costs related to the visit of Pope Francis. The bulk of the money was spent by the Department of Foreign Affairs, which provides VIP services for visiting heads of states, ministers, royals, and senior diplomats.