With more than 90 rooms it might seem strange to say it, but Aras an Uachtarain is not generally seen as big enough a residence for the president. Generations of civil servants and presidents have complained about its lack of facilities. The problem is that it was never built as a residence for a full head of state of a country but as, in effect, a governor's mansion, and so lacks some of the sort of basic facilities automatically available in the likes of the White House, Buckingham Palace and the Quirinale in Rome.
A classic example is the lack of a large banqueting hall. Most heads of state host state banquets in their residence. In Ireland, such banquets can only take place in Dublin Castle as there is no suitable venue in the Aras. That isn't a problem on State occasions; Dublin Castle is a more than suitable substitute. But it means presidents cannot host large-scale functions in the Aras itself, unless in a marquee in the grounds.
A more substantial problem prevents foreign heads of state normally from staying in the Aras. Most royal and presidential residences have special suites of rooms available for guests, many of them with great history attached to them; the Lincoln bedroom in the White House is one famous example. Buckingham Palace has its "Belgian Suite", which is part of the state apartments.
In Aras an Uachtarain, there are no equivalent rooms available. What is available - and at 90-plus rooms, there is a lot available, though apparently most is used for storage - though well maintained, is not thought of high enough standard for most visitors. That is why guests to the country such as presidents Reagan or Clinton of the US, King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Queen Margarethe of Denmark or president Cossiga of Italy, had to be put up either in their own ambassador's residence or in hotels such as the Westbury. And of course, as host Ireland pays their bills. Aras to the adequate level would bring savings in the long term.
Visitors to the Aras will also be struck by how relatively few State rooms there are, and by their smallness compared with the state rooms in the White House or Buckingham Palace, for instance. The creation of additional state rooms - whether a large banqueting hall or special suites of rooms for distinguished guests - would, as well as providing necessary facilities and long-term savings, increase what is then available for the public to see on the Saturday tours.
For details on public tours of Aras an Uachtarain, tel: 01 6709155