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Dáil Éireann - Volume 451 - 30 March, 1995 Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Government Jet. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely 782 7. Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Defence the total number of flights the Government jet has made since 16 [782] December 1994; if he will give a breakdown of internal and external flights; the purpose of the flight; the total costs involved; the list of passengers on each flight; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6592/95] Ms O'Donnell Ms O'Donnell 17. Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Defence the number of occasions on which the Government jet was used between 1 December 1994 and 23 March 1995; the journeys undertaken; the total number of hours flown in the period; the number of occasions on which the Government jet was used between 1 December 1993 and 23 March 1994; the journeys undertaken; the total number of hours flown in the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6642/95] Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 17 together. In the period 1 December 1994 to 23 March 1995, the Gulfstream IV jet carried out 41 flights involving a total of 141 flying hours. All the flights involved destinations outside the State. Thirty three of those flights, involving a total of 118 flying hours, relate to the period 16 December 1994 to 23 March 1995. The direct cost of the 33 flights is estimated at £79,060. In the period between the 1 December 1993 and 23 March 1994 the jet carried out 65 flights involving 247 flying hours. Details of the 106 flights are in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. The Gulfstream aircraft is available to transport the President, Ministers and officials in connection with official duties. Questions relating to the purpose of flights undertaken and passengers carried on the Government jet are a matter for the relevant Minister. 783 784 [783] [784] Use of Government Jet for Ministerial Air Transport 1 December 1994 — 23 March 1995
Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: I am disappointed at the Minister's reply as I understand his predecessor gave information on the purpose of the flights and the passengers. Given the precedent in this area, will the Minister reconsider his reply? Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney: I am supplying that information in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: I thought the Minister said that the relevant Ministers would give the information. Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney 787 Mr. Coveney: The tabular statement gives the dates of the flights and details [787] of the passengers. I cannot answer for each Minister. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: I take it that the Government jet is not used for internal flights. Have helicopters and other aircraft been used by Ministers during that period? Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney: I do not have that information with me but I can get it for the Deputy. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: The Minister is aware of the controversy which arose last October and November about the use of the Government jet. During the long hours I spent in Douglas and other areas of Cork I saw literature which, I think, was headed “If they could see us now”, and with a picture of a Rolls Royce and a Minister's badge on the number plate. Mr. M. Smith Mr. M. Smith Mr. M. Smith: So much for transparency, openness and accountability — they are abandoned souls in Purgatory. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: Even though his picture was on the inside of the brochure the Minister had nothing to do with this. Mr. Dempsey Mr. Dempsey Mr. Dempsey: It was his car. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: Controversy arose about the cost of flights. A colleague of the Minister of State and Deputy Andrews had an interesting chat about the cost of flights on a radio programme. The previous Government was accused of using the Government jet whenever it wanted to. As my collegue—— An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Joe Jacob An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Let us proceed by way of questions. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: Will the Minister compare the use of the Government jet by this Government with that of the previous Government? Mr. M. Smith Mr. M. Smith 788 [788] Mr. M. Smith: The Deputy should not ask the Minister embarrassing questions. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: Will he also compare the costs? An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Joe Jacob An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: The Deputy is going beyond the scope of the question. Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney: It is evident from the figures in the reply that the Government has used the jet considerably less than the previous Government during an equivalent period. However, I do not read too much into this. I used the Government jet before Christmas to attend a meeting of Fisheries Ministers in Brussels and I found it a very convenient way of travelling late at night. I do not want to rehash events which took place when I was not a Member of the House. Mr. M. Smith Mr. M. Smith Mr. M. Smith: Perhaps the Minister does not share the views of his party on this issue. Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney: There was a perception that the Government jet was being used excessively—— Mr. Power Mr. Power Mr. Power: That perception was created and encouraged by the Minister's party. Mr. Browne (Wexford) Mr. Browne (Wexford) Mr. Browne (Wexford): It did not do the Minister any harm during the Cork by-election. An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Joe Jacob An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: The Minister without interruption, please. Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney: Given the costs involved, it would be worse if the jet was permanently grounded. The main costs are unrelated to the flying hours. Mr. M. Smith Mr. M. Smith Mr. M. Smith: The Minister must have been sorely tempted to say something like that during the by-election. Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney 789 Mr. Coveney: The committee dealing with ministerial transport is examining [789] this matter. If it is decided to retain the Government jet — I presume that will be the decision—— Mr. Power Mr. Power Mr. Power: The committee should be abolished. Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney:——it will be a valuable facility to the Government next year when we hold the EU Presidency. The Deputy's question is fair. While we are conscious of what we said in the past about the use of the Government jet it is being used sparingly, and it would be false economy to leave it on the ground permanently. Mr. N. Dempsey Mr. N. Dempsey Mr. N. Dempsey: While I agree with the Minister, will he convey his views about the value of the Government jet to the Fine Gael organisation in Cork? He stated that the direct cost of 33 flights in the Government jet is estimated at £79,060. What would be the cost if it were calculated in the formula used by the Minister of State. Deputy Rabbitte, before the fall of the last Government when he calculated it at approximately £4,500 per hour? At what stage is the review of ministerial transport and how will that affect the use of the Government jet? Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney: A committee on ministerial transport was set up in January and instructed to report within six months. Mr. Power Mr. Power Mr. Power: It should be told not to waste its time. Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney: I do not have information on its proposals. My predecessor gave the overall cost to which the Deputy referred. I do not have that information, but I will supply the Deputy with the details. Dr. McDaid Dr. McDaid Dr. McDaid: Is the Government jet absolutely essential and one of the better Government investments in the past ten or 20 years? Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney 790 [790] Mr. Coveney: I do not know the answer to the second part of the Deputy's question, but the jet is essential to the efficient operation of the Government particularly as Ireland will hold the Presidency of the European Union next year. Dr. McDaid Dr. McDaid Dr. McDaid: That is what we always claimed. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: At least the Minister gave an honest answer. Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney Mr. Coveney: It is a question of the degree to which it is used. Mr. Callely Mr. Callely Mr. Callely: Perhaps the Minister should talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, about the matter, but he is probably in his baby chair with a rattler. Dáil Éireann 451 Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. Use of Government Jet. Questions 19950330
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