Taoiseach rejects 'absurd' claim US trip is waste of taxpayers' money

Simon Harris also defends decision to deploy his politically-appointed adviser into the Oval Office in Washington to take social media footage

Simon Harris meets Joe Biden at the White House.  Picture: Tasos Katopodis/Irish Government/PA

The Taoiseach has claimed it is "absurd" to suggest that his trip to Washington was a waste of taxpayers' money.

Simon Harris has also defended the decision to deploy one of his politically-appointed advisers into the Oval Office to take social media footage, stating: "Political advisers can also take videos."