Tipperary Independent TD Mattie McGrath has hit out at State plans to spend €600,000 on bags, umbrellas and pins with European Union Presidency branding – describing the spending as an “appalling” waste of taxpayer money.
As reported by the Irish Times on Monday, the Government is proposing to spend almost €600,000 on tote bags, stationery and other merchandise to promote Ireland’s six-month European Union presidency.
Every EU country holds the presidency for six months at a time; Ireland last held the presidency in 2013.
A request for tender was issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade last week for the “supply, packaging and delivery of branded stationery packs and branded merchandise for use in connection with Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of
the European Union.” The tender specifies that it is seeking the production of advertising material, which is to include stationary, paper stationary, umbrellas, ballpoint pens, notebooks, identification badges, and sacks and bags complete with the branding.
Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026, with the Department of Foreign Affairs ordering large amounts of branded merchandise to be handed out.
Whilst many of the stationary packs will be delivered to Dublin, many will be distributed to cities across the world, including in Africa, Washington DC, Brussels and the Vatican.
“It is customary for EU member states holding the role of presidency … to provide branded stationery with the presidency logo for distribution to delegates in the course of each presidency,” the request for tender states.
The stationary will be used by “officials, delegates and partners across Ireland and the global Irish mission network in the course of the presidency.”
‘FRIVOLOUS’
Commenting, Mattie McGrath TD told Gript: “It is an appalling, and quite frankly, outrageous waste of money – taxpayer money — on frivolous stuff.
“Once again, it’s an attempt to show off how good are in Ireland at a time when we are abandoning our poor, and those with special needs with the cutbacks to Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).
“Look at the children across the country with disabilities, such as those with severe scoliosis, who have been completely abandoned, and the families forced to crowd-fund for treatment abroad.
“People are languishing on waiting lists, young people are leaving in droves because they can’t afford a home, and the cost of basics for families and the elderly is crippling.
“Yet somehow, we can find this big chunk of money, hundreds of thousands of euros, to spend on pens and bags and umbrellas with EU branding. It’s ridiculously wasteful. The main point is that it’s all so false and it’s an empty show. It’s very much an example of wearing a fur coat but having no vest underneath.
“All fur coat and no drawers. That about sums up how we run this country versus the shining image we try and put out to the rest of the world.
“It’s the typical example of us acting above our station and promoting ourselves as great leaders when people’s lived reality shows this is anything but true. We have to learn to take care of the people at home before anything else.”
A breakdown shows that the Government is to purchase 56,400 tote bags, which will each contain an A5 notepad and ballpoint pen, at an estimated cost of €445,000 plus VAT.
In addition, it will buy 4,000 smaller notebook sets, 11,000 large and small umbrellas, 6,000 lapel pins and 3,000 lanyards, at an estimated cost of €125,000 before VAT. In total, the Department plans to spend €570,000 plus VAT on the merchandise.
“Delivering a successful EU presidency, including an extensive programme of events in Ireland, is essential for Ireland’s position, influence and reputation in the EU and for advancing the European Union’s agenda against a complex geopolitical background,” the document states.
This is only a small part of the overall total expected to be spent on the EU presidency, which the Government estimates will cost €293 million, according to 2026 budget figures.
€282 million of this is planned expenditure for operational costs, security, and staffing, with an additional €11.7 million in capital expenditure.