Fine dining on taxpayers’ money

An internal report says the HSA’s spending on dining out for the most part ‘was not excessive’ — despite lunches at Michelin-star eateries, writes Claire O’Sullivan

AN INTERNAL audit ordered by health and safety chiefs on the amount they spent on food, drinks and tips during the Celtic Tiger and beyond found “no evidence” to suggest the Heath and Safety Authority (HSA) ever sought value for money.

An examination of credit card statements between 2005 and 2011 shows how HSA staff dined at the best of restaurants. In the six-and-a-half year period from Jan 2005 to Jun 2011, €100,217 was spent on “meeting related expenditure” including team building and Christmas lunches: