Sculptures, harps, and royal entertainment among Foreign Affairs costs in 2020

Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton greet children at Salthill GAA centre. It cost the Department of Foreign Affairs some €17,541 in 'state entertainment' for the royal visit. Picture: Ray Ryan

A €17,650 sculpture, a €13,970 bill for decorative harps outside Irish embassies, and €17,541 in catering for Prince William and Kate Middleton were among the costs incurred in keeping the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs running last year.

The department also forked out €13,274 for catering during a visit to Ireland by the president of Greece as well as €28,000 to a company that specialises in the management of confidential concerns about workplace wrongdoings.