16 May 2006

Foreign Affairs

Contents of Department's Wine Cellar

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department's wine cellar, including the vintages, quantity, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern): The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains a stock of wine for use in relation to State and Official hospitality. There is significant saving to the tax payer in this direct purchase approach, as against sourcing wines for individual events through a caterer and being subject to a mark-up in the price. The range of wines in stock also facilitates choices being made that are suitable for events at various levels.
Appendix A lists the names, vintages, quantity, date of most recent purchase and unit price at date of most recent purchase of wines purchased since 1 January 2002. In the period since 1 January 2002 the Department has purchased wines from a number of suppliers, including G. Elliott & Sons Ltd, Henry J. Archer & Sons Ltd, Kevin Parsons Wines Ltd, Mitchell & Son Wine Merchants, O'Briens Wine Off-Licence, Searsons Wine Merchants and The Wine Vaults.

Appendix B lists the names, vintages, quantity and unit price at date of most recent purchase of wines purchased prior to 1 January 2002. It was not possible, in the time available, to supply the date of most recent purchase or supplier of wines purchased prior to 1 January 2002.

Appendix A: Wines purchased since 1 January 2002