The media has been filled with stories about RTÉ’s payments to Ryan Tubridy. And quite rightly as there were €345,000 worth of undisclosed payments made between 2017 and 2022 to the former Late Late Show host.
But there is an even bigger scandal that has received little public attention. The government has spent €1.2 million on an office in the NATO headquarters in Brussels.
A total of €814,655 was spent on renovating this office in 2020. Maybe, officials thought that the carpet was not plush enough for NATO generals to walk in and out.
Another €383,206 was spent on rent and phone costs, which are payable directly to NATO.
Why is a neutral country paying out huge sums for an office in the NATO headquarters?
Why is the Public Account Committee not hauling in civil servants to enquire how exactly over €800,000 was spent on the renovation?
It is time to stop this charade. Neutrality means we stop paying money to NATO and close down the office in their European headquarters.