Ambassador's €46k rent hike in London

THE Department of Foreign Affairs was hit with a €46,000 hike on the annual rent for the ambassador's London home.

- BY KEN FOXE

It had little choice but to agree to the 10% increase as no better options were available, according to records released under FOI.

An internal submission said that the Irish Ambassador to the UK, currently Martin Fraser, had been living in the property in Chester Square since September 2019.

In late 2022, the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were interested in extending the lease.

Officials tried, “actively but unsuccessfully” to negotiate a much smaller increase in rent.