Taoiseach’s office foots €3,700 bill to feed coalition wannabes

Cost of refreshments during eight days of talks

Several sandwich platters from OBriens on nearby Merrion Row cost 157 each

Over €3,700 was spent on feeding Fine Gael and independent TDs during the lengthy talks to form a government.

The Taoiseach’s private office met the full €3,705 cost of refreshments during eight days of talks that took place between March 24 and April 6 in Government Buildings, according to documents released under Freedom of Information.

Fine Gael negotiators, including senior ministers, met with 17 independent TDs to discuss and draft a programme for ...