Well I dont know who he flys with but 800euro is pretty cheap, My flights at around Xmas/NewYears worked out nearly 1100euro including insurance, And my flights this time around will work out just under that... Both with Thai airways though...
The cheapest flights I had myself was with Lufthansa, And that was for last Songkran, Got them for around 760euro and they were pretty good flights..
I do know that Singapore airlines were doing specials from Ireland all over the summer from 700euro to 800euro, Actually they still have a few of them flights going if your dates are flexible enough, Also I know Gulf air and Malaysian are doing really cheap specials form Dublin all the time, From 650euro... But they both have long stop-overs and not my kind of thing to be honest..
Here's a few good websites to look through...
www.ebookers.ie
www.usit.ie
www.clubtravel.ie
www.etravel.ie
Hope that helps...