Ireland’s six-month presidency of EU to cost €10m in hospitality and catering services

The OPW is seeking tenders to provide silver-service catering for visiting delegations during the six-month presidency

The catering requirements would include tea and coffee served to a meeting table, a working three-course lunch with silver service, optional wine pairings for the meal, and a three-course dinner with wine. File photo

High-quality hospitality and catering services for government leaders and diplomats during Ireland’s presidency of the European Union next year is set to cost the Irish taxpayer at least €10 million.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is seeking tenders from hospitality specialists who will be required to provide silver-service catering and a range of other dining experiences for visiting delegations during the six-month presidency.

The services will be required for up to 160 meetings at a number of landmark venues across the capital, including Dublin Castle, Farmleigh House, Áras an Uachtaráin, and Iveagh House.

Full dining events will require five-course meals with wine pairings, a bespoke designed menu, serving high-quality, seasonal, organic food with geographical indications, according to tender documents.

Other hospitality options will include wine and canapés, selections of sandwiches, tea, coffee, pastries, and buffet-style lunches, involving formal service styles and beverage lists to accompany menus.

The categories of catering and hospitality services required are tiered. “Tier 1A” demands “premier service” for large-scale meetings of European leaders, while meetings of senior officials require a “corporate catering service”.

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The OPW has been tasked with providing essential infrastructure and hosting meetings during the EU presidency at State-owned venues. Dublin Castle will play a “core role” in hosting events, the tender states.

The successful contractor will provide hospitality and catering services for high-level government meetings, high-level lunches, dinners, receptions, conferences, and state dinners.

The value of the contract is estimated at €10 million plus VAT, and the framework agreement that comes into effect in the second quarter of 2026 will remain in place for an initial period of one year, with an option to extend for a further 12 months.

An extensive programme of between 130 and 160 meetings, events and conferences will be organised by government departments and official bodies in Dublin Castle and other OPW venues.

The contract includes catering services for “regular operations” at OPW properties after the end of Ireland’s presidency of the EU in January 2027.

Tender documents provide an example of a “Tier 1B” event, which includes ministerial and high-level meetings and events. The example requires catering for 235 delegates, 14 interpreters, 30 staff, and 30 members of the media.

The catering requirements would include tea and coffee served to a meeting table, a working three-course lunch with silver service, optional wine pairings for the meal, and a three-course dinner with wine.

The example event would take place in two dining rooms for delegations, and separate locations for staff, liaison officers, and media. Dinner menus must provide a choice of six or seven options for each course.

Interested parties have until January 23 to submit tenders for the contract.