The Department of Foreign Affairs has a snazzy wine collection worth more than €60,000... all funded by taxpayers.

The figures released to the Star show the government has a wine vault with more than 16 hundred bottles, including a €90 Chateau Talbot, and others worth €86 each.

They keep the wine for special events like visits from the Queen and other State visits.

Two years ago, Foreign Affairs sold €11,000 worth of wine from its collection to a merchant.

Some TDs, including Independent Finian McGrath, have labelled the wine cellar as 'excessive and scandalous' and a waste of public money.