The Irish Daily Mail front page today has the sort of image that would annoy the average taxpayer on a  good day. But on Budget day...

They say timing is everything and while the below image of Environment Minister Phil Hogan enjoying himself in Qatar is not great PR for the Government of a broke little country like ours, the day that is in it makes it far, far worse.

Via @Chrisrdonoghue

Just hours before Michael Noonan gets up to deliver what will, in all likelihood, be yet another Budget of cutbacks and tax increases, his Cabinet colleague is all over every newsagent’s window enjoying a drink in a five-star hotel in Doha.

The Irish Daily Mail story, from Senan Molony and Tahira Yaqoob, shows the Minister relaxing on Sunday night after attending a UN climate change conference. The 10-strong Irish party that attended included Hogan’s press secretary, Yvonne Hyland, the woman pictured with him on the front page.

The Mail say the cheapest room in the Kempinski Hotel is €605 a night, but it also quotes the department, which claim the cost was about €150 a night. They also tell us Hogan paid his €55 drink bill in cash.

We imagine that Big Phil was a bit red-faced at this morning’s Cabinet meeting. He can probably expect some slagging from the opposition later today too.