Mary Coughlan and Brendan Smith don't shop up north.

ei.sdraob

They shop in Brussels instead.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/coughlan-got--83642000-supply-of-alcohol-from-brussels-shop-1972519.html

FOR months the Government has preached the need for patriotism in an effort to stem the flood of shoppers heading north for cheaper alcohol.

But it appears different rules apply to the minister charged with job creation, Tanaiste Mary Coughlan, who chose not Newry but Brussels to splurge almost €2,000 on whiskey and liqueur at taxpayers' expense.

The first purchase included 30 one-litre bottles of Jameson, costing €19.80 each. Five Baileys twin packs, containing two one-litre bottles, were also purchased for €23.60 each.

On the second visit to Le Cellier, 42 bottles of Jameson were bought for €19.80 each.

A third visit saw 12 one-litre bottles of Jameson being bought, for €24.40 a bottle, and seven one-litre bottles of Baileys, at a cost of €14.50 each.

Considerable savings were made buying the gifts in Brussels rather than Ireland.

A litre of the same Jameson whiskey currently costs €48.84 at one leading Irish supermarket, with a litre of Baileys costing €26.10 at the same retailer.

why the hell is drink that is produced in this country almost twice the price here?

wtf is going on

peasant

ei.sdraob wrote: »

why the hell is drink that is produced in this country almost twice the price here?

wtf is going on

Customs & Excise

parsi

So she gets dissed for saving the taxpayer money ?

Funny old world in which the indo lives - charging the paddys way more for their papers than the brits.

Elevator

typical, the fact the minister bought 101 litres of alcohol in brussles in 3 visits at our bloody expense and the only annoyance so far being directed at the customs and excise and the indo newspaper, there really is no hope for this country as far as i'm concerned

97i9y3941

Elevator wrote: »

typical, the fact the minister bought 101 litres of alcohol in brussles in 3 visits at our bloody expense and the only annoyance so far being directed at the customs and excise and the indo newspaper, there really is no hope for this country as far as i'm concerned

bleeding it dry,according to the indo some of the pub sector are entilted to a lovely payrise this next year...

ei.sdraob

parsi wrote: »

So she gets dissed for saving the taxpayer money ?

Funny old world in which the indo lives - charging the paddys way more for their papers than the brits.

yes she saved money but you missing the point


why could she not buy Irish products in Ireland for cheaper?

MikeC101

Newly-released documents reveal how Ms Coughlan had officials splash out on 12-year-old Jameson and bottles of Baileys as Christmas and St Patrick's gifts for EU ministers.

Wonder if she managed to get the right amount, or if she just sent the bigger nations two bottles each?

John_Mc

If the difference in price really is Customs and Excise, then buying in Ireland would mean the surplus money spent would be going straight to the revenue. Not only would it support the Irish economy, it would save the country money as well.

jimmycrackcorm

As does happen, the meejia get the story arseways about. The drink (Irish) was purchased by the Brussels Irish contingent for diplomatic presents to .EU officals in Brussels - hence bought locally.

Tomorrows news story is about how they try to make up for it by flying in Denny rashers for breakfasts on the daily Aer Fungus flights and then pay thousands to have a limousine on standby for bacon collections...

brendansmith

Hey! Leave me out of this!

starbelgrade

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

As does happen, the meejia get the story arseways about. The drink (Irish) was purchased by the Brussels Irish contingent for diplomatic presents to .EU officals in Brussels - hence bought locally.

Instead of buying it in the duty free at the airport before they left for Brussels?

kippy

Fred83 wrote: »

bleeding it dry,according to the indo some of the pub sector are entilted to a lovely payrise this next year...

Pretty much any Public sector not on the top of their incremental scale.