Varadkar defends Government’s expensive wine tastes

Transport Minister has defended the Government’s high spending on fine wines to stock the cellars of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

By Declan Whooley

It has emerged that the Government splashed out €77,000 on some of the finest vino, with 24 bottles of Chateau Lynch Bages costing a pricely €79 a pop. The Department claimed that stocking up was in order with the EU Presidency and the visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama.

Coming just one day after taking the monthly €200 mobility allowance from disabled people, the timing could not have been worse, but Varadkar has defended the decision.

“The Government needs to be very sensitive about what we do and how we spend money. At the same time, the European Presidency is a real opportunity for Ireland,” he told the Irish Independent.

“It is important we treat visiting delegates in a way we would expect to be treated, particularly if we want them to make concessions to Ireland that are worth billions of euros,” he added.

We think that the end of aisle special would do fine, but then again we’re no wine connoisseurs.