A £33,906 catering bill for Mr Larry Goodman and his meat company during the Beef Tribunal was "a bargain" for the State, the Taxing Master of the High Court was told yesterday.
A legal challenge by the Minister for Finance to the catering facilities laid on at Arran House, Dublin, for staff of Mr Goodman's companies and others involved in the inquiry was "grotesque," said Mr Paul Behan, legal cost accountant for the Goodman side.
He told the hearing: "The impression being given is that there was a food emporium down at Arran Quay and people were eating and drinking all the hours that God sends. But it was not like that at all. The Minister is getting a bargain and it is niggardly in the extreme that he is challenging this.
"In effect, the figure would have been multiples had the company sought to seek all other expenses incurred."
However, the £33,906 payment to Concept Catering covered a 475 day period (July 5th, 1991 to May 21st, 1992), although the Beef Tribunal had only heard evidence on 226 days, said Mr Peter Fitzpatrick, legal cost accountant for the State
He criticised the bill as "a luxury" which should be disallowed by the Taxing Master, Master James Flynn.
Mr Goodman's personal accommodation costs at Stephen's Hall, Leeson Street, meanwhile totalled £3,536, the Taxing Master heard.
Mr Fitzpatrick stressed that Mr Goodman had given evidence to the tribunal on only four days and that his accommodation expenses were "wholly unreasonable and grossly excessive."
However, Mr Behan emphasised that Mr Goodman had stayed at the hotel on a great many occasions when the tribunal necessitated his being in Dublin. The final bill amounted to £70 per night and his average dinner bills were between £4.20 and £8.80. The balance resulted from use of laundry, television and car parking facilities.
The £162,361 fee paid out to public relations consultant Mr Pat, Heneghan, recruited by Mr Goodman, was also challenged by the Minister.
Mr Fitzpatrick said Mr Heneghan played no role in obtaining justice for Mr Goodman at the tribunal and the cost incurred was "unjustifiable."
However, Mr Behan said the media coverage had everything to do with the tribunal and that Mr Goodman's company had come under close scrutiny from the media on a daily basis.