The Department of Foreign Affairs failed to sell off some of its stock of fine wine earlier this year, documents released to RTÉ News under the Freedom of Information Act show.
The documents show that civil servants contacted several Irish wine merchants offering for sale "all wines which were purchased by the department for in excess of €35 per bottle".
A catalogue of wine available for sale was sent to a range of wine traders accompanied by a description that some of the bottles "are in their original wooden cases and all of the wines have been stored in a suitably darkened cellar at a constant low temperature since they were purchased by the department".
Traders were also asked for their discretion in dealing with the department.
In 2013 the then minister for foreign affairs Eamon Gilmore ordered a review of his department's wine policy and decided to clear out its most expensive bottles.
Some of the wine was sold in 2013, but despite repeated efforts to sell off the rest of the tradable wine in 2014 and 2015, the department was unable to find a buyer.
Correspondence between civil servants shows that "a decision was made not to pursue the option of selling the wine by auction" despite contact from Adam's auctioneers.
A spokesperson said: "The department's stock of wine is maintained for use in relation to State and Official hospitality and the range in stock facilitates the provision of wines at a very significant discount from the cost of purchasing them from catering companies at the time that they are required."
The present value of the wine stock in the department is €54,590.86.
Since 2013, the Department of Foreign Affairs has only purchased wine worth less than €10 per bottle for use at official functions.
Documents released under FOI show that just under €5,000 was spent on wine by the department between January and October 2015.
In that period, 45 events were organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs on promoting Ireland's bilateral relations, on political and economic interests, as well as cultural events with an international dimension.
