Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has spent €85,244.90 on make-up services in just over four years, according to figures he released to the Dáil. Last year €25,107.22 was spent, the equivalent of €482.83 a week.
Mr Ahern told John Gormley (Green Party, Dublin South East): "When I am due to speak in Dáil Éireann or I am about to be interviewed for television, I make the normal preparations that are standard for all those who participate in television programmes, just as successive taoisigh have done since the introduction of the televising of Dáil proceedings in 1990."
Mr Gormley, who raised the issue during Taoiseach's questions, had asked for "the annual figures for money paid to a person and a company [details supplied] since 2002 for services to his department".
The figures showed that in 2002, €11,744.77 was spent, while the cost was €18,675.43 in 2003. The expenditure in 2004 amounted to €25,652.82 which was €545.60 less than last year. The cost for the first three months of this year was € 4,064.66.
Mr Ahern said the services of two people were made available on a per diem basis in the Department of the Taoiseach, usually for two days a week, when he was in the Dáil.
Mr Gormley, who described Mr Ahern as the "L'Oreal Taoiseach" and the "queen of Drumcondra", asked: "How does the Taoiseach expect taxpayers, many of whom are lying on trolleys, to pay such an exorbitant sum to meet the cost of his vanity, essentially?"
Mr Ahern said the two people were paid the Siptu rate for the job. "I do not think these people should be fired to satisfy Deputy Gormley." He availed of the same services as everyone else who appeared on television and he said to Mr Gormley: "You always goes to the RTÉ room and use the make up". The Green Party TD asked: "Would it be too much trouble for the Taoiseach to apply his make-up himself?"
