Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

To date the total expenditure by my Department on the visit by President Obama is €125,838. Of this total spent on catering was €14,483. The projected cost of the visit of President Obama is approximately €600,000. The main area of expenditure was the organisation of the large-scale public event in College Green. To date the total expenditure by my Department on the visit by Queen Elizabeth II is €25,709. The bulk of this expenditure relates to the catering and transport arrangements for the wreath laying ceremony in the War Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge. More than 570 guests attended the ceremony. The total expenditure on catering was €19,709. These costs must be seen in the context of the historic nature of the visits and the opportunities they presented not only for trade, investment and tourism, but also in enhancing Ireland's international reputation and profile at a critical juncture.

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