The state guesthouse at Farmleigh offers only slightly better value for the taxpayer than the country's top five-star hotels, when it comes to hosting visiting Chinese premiers.
The bill to the Department of Foreign Affairs for two five- star hotels in Kerry to accommodate the Chinese Premier and his 130-strong delegation for one night during a state visit here last month amounted to just over £27,000. But that included a banquet hosted by the Minister, Mr Cowen.
Two nights in Farmleigh, which was purchased by the State for £23 million and refurbished for a further £18 million, cost the Department over £42,000 . Flowers were extra.
In all, almost £170,000 was spent by the Department of Foreign Affairs on hospitality and entertainment during the three-night visit of Chinese Premier Mr Zhu Rongji and his retinue to Ireland in September, it has been learned under a Freedom of Information question.
The overall figures do not include the official dinner in Dublin Castle hosted by the Taoiseach and Ms Celia Larkin. Considerable State money was also spent on security. The Department paid over £21,000 to Aer Lingus for the charter of an aircraft to take the Premier and some of the party to Co Kerry and back to Dublin.
Gifts to the Premier and Madame Lao An cost £1,154. Just under £4,000 was spent on gifts for the rest of the delegation, which included a large press contingent. A further £13,855 was spent on flowers during the visit, while Chinese and Irish flags cost over £800 pounds.
In Farmleigh catering was contracted to Jurys Doyle Hotel. A breakdown of costs for Farmleigh included a payroll of £34,622, food and beverages at £5,534 and expenses at slightly over £2,087.
Long-term arrangements are to be put in place for the provision of hospitality at Farmleigh in keeping with the standards to be expected by visiting VIPs of a State guesthouse, according to the Department. "It is envisaged that future costs associated with the use of Farmleigh by visiting VIPs will be substantially lower than this," the spokesperson said.
Accommodation in Kerry for one night for over 100 of the delegation cost 27,000. The main delegation stayed at the Hotel Europe by the lower lake, where £17,746 was spent. Chinese officials and press stayed at the Killarney Park Hotel, where the bill came to £9,265. Both are five-star hotels.