asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the managing director of a private company had his personal plane serviced by Air Corps personnel in Baldonnel during the Christmas period; whether the Air Corps are in the business of carrying out such servicing for individual citizens; if so, the cost to the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Servicing of Privately-Owned Aircraft.
21.
(Limerick West): No servicing of a privately owned aircraft was carried out by personnel of the Air Corps at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel during the period in question. It is not the practice for the Air Corps to service aircraft at Baldonnel other than those for which the Air Corps are operationally responsible.
Is the Minister denying that this private aircraft was serviced during the Christmas period?
(Limerick West): There was no servicing of the aircraft concerned during any period.
I have tremendous respect for the owner of this private aircraft and I understand that he is a personal friend of the Taoiseach. Are we going to have stroke politics by the Government on the servicing of this aircraft? Such servicing should have been carried out by Aer Lingus at Dublin Airport and not at Baldonnel.
(Limerick West): I should like, for accuracy and in case there is any misinformation in regard to this, to repeat my reply to the Deputy's question. I stated that no servicing of a privately owned aircraft was carried out by personnel of the Air Corps at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel during the period in question. I said that it was not the practice for the Air Corps to service aircraft at Baldonnel other than those for which the Air Corps are operationally responsible.
The information I have is fairly authentic and I suggest that the Minister check his facts again.
(Limerick West): Is the Deputy insinuating that I am misleading the House in the information I have given? I have given the facts of the case.
It must not be inferred that any Minister is deliberately misleading the House. That is quite out of order.
Is it true that privately-owned aircraft use the Air Corps facilities at Baldonnel by landing and taking off from there? If so, what is the background to this practice? Why was this State facility made available in this way?
(Limerick West): The aircraft in question is being stored at Baldonnel. Facilities are being provided on a short-term basis pending the completion of a hangar being built by the company at Dublin Airport. The facilities were made available on a repayment basis at a cost comparable to the normal commercial tariffs. The following charges are being applied: landing fee £80 per landing; hangarage, including towing, £100 per 24-hour period. The following facilities have been availed of up to and including 9 February 1989: landings 13; hangarages 39 days.
Was this facility ever extended in this way to any other owner of a private aircraft? In other words, is there any precedent for a privately-owned aircraft regularly using the State's main Air Corps base? Does the Minister not consider that there could be a very serious security risk involved in this practice? Surely he owes the House a fuller explanation than what he gave in his initial reply because, to say the least the whole thing is very sinister.
(Limerick West): No, it is not. The use of the aerodrome is subject to military requirements. Facilities are not being made available in normal operational hours. Any damage caused to State property arising out of such use is to be made good by the company concerned. To this end the company has produced satisfactory insurance cover in respect of public liability and fire insurance. As I have said, it is a commercial matter.
I am calling question No. 22.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Please, Deputy, I have given quite an amount of latitude on this question. I am now calling Question No. 22.
I asked the Minister if there is a precedent for this practice. Surely the Minister will answer that question?
A Cheann Comhairle, I asked a supplementary on this question.
I should like to ask the same question as Deputy Molloy.
I have called Question No. 22.
It is a scandal and is now a cover-up.