Department of Defence spent €21k on marquees for commissioning ceremony

One of the two marquee tents used on the day of  the naming and commissioning ceremony of LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait at Haulbowline Naval Base, last month. File picture: Larry Cummins

The Department of Defence paid a private contractor more than €21,000 to provide two marquees to host guests at the recent commissioning of two navy ships even though the army could have provided the tents for free.

The Department of Defence said they were contracted through the OPW Event Management Services Procurement Framework and the costs associated with the hire, construction, and dismantling of the two marquees, including sanitary facilities, for the event was €21,658 including Vat.