Jars of honey harvested from the roof of the Department of Justice – but no loud trad music – were ordered up for visiting dignitaries during the Irish EU presidency last month, internal records show.
Among the first high-profile gatherings organised under the Irish presidency of the council of the European Union was an informal meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers on July 16-17th, chaired by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan.
Guests also included EU commissioners, heads of EU agencies and members of the European Parliament.
Records released under Freedom of Information laws show O’Callaghan was involved in narrowing down the meatier policy topics to be discussed – but also had a view on the fine details of a gala dinner during the event.
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In a comment for officials, he outlined how he wanted to focus on organised crime and migration as key themes, but also told officials: “I think we should try to incorporate some unoppressive Irish traditional music into this function.”
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said live traditional Irish music was played “in the background” during the reception, with a performance during dinner by sean-nós singer Sibéal Ní Chasaide.
A note drawn up in April for O’Callaghan outlined how Ireland’s presidency would focus on, among other things, the new EU migration pact and the future of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
It also listed the gifts being planned for Ministers and other delegates, with the Department of Foreign Affairs providing branded tote bags, notebooks and pens to be accompanied by gifts from Cabinet members.
“We intend to include a jar of department honey (produced by the bees on the roof of 51 St Stephen’s Green),” officials told O’Callaghan. There are also plans to gift hand-carved wooden pens produced by the participants in a youth diversion programme during the presidency.
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The gifts were not expected to come at a significant cost, they said, adding that the Department of Foreign Affairs had suggested a value of €50-€100 for the gifts.
A reply to a parliamentary question last month shows that in the final reckoning, O’Callaghan presented his ministerial counterparts with the Department of Justice honeypots “accompanied by a sample of local craft whiskey, glassware and a handcrafted enamel gift”. The value was €71.
Other delegates were given branded stationery procured by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The internal documents also suggest that Foreign Affairs was planning to procure “unisex Irish woollen scarves” for a future event, “in place of the traditional ties/scarves”.
A spokesman said it was the department’s understanding that “centrally sourced scarves” were being distributed to all Ministers at the first formal council meeting.
The Department of Justice said, “As is customary for such events, a dinner is hosted at the end of the first day, which provided an opportunity to showcase Irish food, music and craft.”
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A pre-dinner exhibition in the State drawingrooms featured an exhibition entitled Ceirdaíocht na hÉireann (Culture in our hands). It featured artists from Cork, Tipperary and Dublin, including stonemason Ed Coveney, hurl makers Bernard and Dean Farrell, lacemaker Fiona Harrington and glassmaker Katie Spiers.
Reception guests enjoyed Irish cheese from Tipperary and Cork, Carlingford oysters and Irish stout.
The department has been allocated €5 million for presidency-related costs, with €3.6 million to cover staffing and the balance to pay for hosting events in Ireland and Brussels, as well as additional costs for officials travelling to Brussels to attend and chair meetings.
