Enda Kenny
Question:1 Mr. Kenny asked the Taoiseach the procedures in place in his office for the use of the Government jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23829/03]
Ceisteanna – Questions. - Ministerial Transport.
Trevor Sargent
Question:2 Mr. Sargent asked the Taoiseach the rules in his Department governing the use of the Government jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25599/03]
Pat Rabbitte
Question:3 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Taoiseach the procedures in place with regard to the use of the Government jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26332/03]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:4 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the rule and procedures in place in his Department for use of the Government jet. [28299/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together.
I refer the Deputies to my oral reply of 14 May 2003 and written reply from last Tuesday, 18 November 2003, on this issue. While the position is unchanged, I am happy to outline the procedures again for the information of the House. The Gulfstream IV Government jet is part of the ministerial air transport service which is provided by the Air Corps to facilitate members of the Government in fulfilling their official engagements at home and abroad. Use of the service requires my approval. Requests for the use of the service are made by Ministers' private secretaries to my office and are dealt with, in the first instance, by the staff of my office. Requests are examined by my staff with regard to the need and purpose of travel, the destination and other logistical details. Any necessary clarification or further information is sought at this point. All screened requests are then submitted to me for approval. Once approved, all operational matters are settled directly between the Minister in question and the Department of Defence or the Air Corps.
I understand one take-off and landing of a jet constitutes what is known as a cycle and that the more of these that take place, the more wear and tear the jet accumulates. I am told there were 243 short-hop flights between Dublin Airport and Baldonnel in the past five years. That is an extraordinary number of short flights. I am sure the Minister for Defence, Deputy Smith, will advise the Taoiseach in this regard.
Will the Taoiseach explain why the Government jet, Gulfstream IV, undertook 243 cycles between Dublin Airport and Baldonnel? Is my information in this regard correct? Will the new Learjet be delivered by the end of 2003, gold taps or not? I respect that the Taoiseach and Cabinet will take on onerous responsibilities on 1 January and that it will be necessary to transfer members of the Government to official meetings throughout Europe. Will the Government buy or lease the new jet? Is it an economic or super-duper model?
What about the gold taps?
For the benefit of Ministers of State, is the Beechcraft still in working order? I almost did not make it to Luxembourg on a few occasions but for the skill of the pilots of that aircraft.
The Deputy will be glad we are getting rid of it.
The number of flights made by Gulfsteam IV between Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, and Dublin Airport in each of the past five years, excluding 2003 as we do not have those figures, were, in reverse order, nine, 15, 30, 31 and 28. The figures for Dublin Airport to Baldonnel were 17, 14, 31, 32 and 36. The number of flights involved is relatively small. Each mission may consist of a number of flights. For example, a mission might be Baldonnel-New York-Washington-Baldonnel. There are also flights to Dublin Airport. There were nine missions in 2002 and 15 the previous year.
The new Learjet is being purchased at a cost of €8.4 million. The Minister for Defence has answered many question on that since September. The new jet is a Learjet 45. It is a nine seater light business jet which will transport us to most European destinations. The Beechcraft, which is now 23 years old, still works. Most of its flights are within the country. It can travel further although I am not too sure how many people would wish to travel further in it.
I was contacted by a constituent yesterday whose aunt had spent five days not on a trolley but in a Buxton chair in the Mater Hospital. How does the Taoiseach think that person feels about spending €100,000 on food, wine and luxury chocolates for the jet?
That matter does not arise out of this question.
Is that not an indulgence and does it not send out the wrong message to people who have to suffer cutbacks?
That issue does not arise now. The Deputy should submit a question on the matter.
It arises in the context of the amount of money spent on the jet and how we use it. I would like an answer from the Taoiseach.
The Deputy has made his point.
Food is served on the jet. We could choose not to serve food but that would not—
I cannot hear the Taoiseach.
Is the Deputy suggesting we should not serve food on the jet?
No, but luxury chocolates are an obscenity.
We could serve organic lettuce and brown bread.
People might prefer that.
Deputy Gormley, please allow the Taoiseach to continue without interruption.
I will suggest to the Air Corps that we have organic lettuce.
I understand that, in recent negotiations with PDFORRA, the representatives of the Defence Forces, the threat of possible industrial action arose because of its concerns about dispensing with 400 personnel in the Defence Forces, perhaps including the Air Corps.
I suggest that the Deputy submit a question to the Minister for Defence.
No, the question is quite legitimate. If the Ceann Comhairle bears with me—
It does not arise out of Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive.
It does. If you allow me to finish, it will become apparent to you, and even to the Taoiseach. My understanding is that the Government jet is flown by members of the Air Corps. As there is threatened industrial action, of which it is speculated that it would include a withdrawal of—
Deputy, it does not arise. It is a matter for the Minister for Defence.
—pilots' services in terms of the Government jet—
I suggest that the Deputy put the question to the Minister for Defence.
We are talking about the Government jet.
We move on to Question No. 5.
With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, I am not finished. I have a number of questions on this issue.
I am sorry, but you are out of order on that question.
I am trying to establish whether the Taoiseach agrees that it would be—
I am sorry, but I have already ruled that you should submit a question to the Minister for Defence if you wish to pursue the matter. It is a matter for the Minister for Defence.
I had hoped that the Taoiseach might have been able to advise me what contingency plans there might be to ensure that the Government jet is available to the Government during the term of the EU Presidency.
The matter does not arise at this stage. I call Deputy Durkan.
If I may, a Cheann Comhairle, I will move on to my second question on the Government jet, having made no progress on the first. After all the hullabaloo that arose from the initial plans, we are now looking at a nine-seater jet. How is it defensible that the initial proposition was for a jet that would accommodate in excess of 40 people? Is what is now being considered not the more appropriate model? How can the Taoiseach justify what was originally intended in the first proposal to provide air transport for himself and his Cabinet colleagues?
The Taoiseach may answer the second question.
As I stated earlier this year, budgetary considerations dictate that, at this stage, we continue with the Gulfstream as a back-up. It has huge mileage and it is now 13 or 14 years old. The Beechcraft is 23 years old. Circumstances have dictated that we can afford only a small seven to nine-seater aircraft.
Is that not sufficient?
I am sorry, Deputy.
I have no doubt that the issue will have to be revisited on another day. Ultimately it will not go away.
The Taoiseach mentioned that of the 241 trips referred to by Deputy Kenny, many of them were via Dublin-Baldonnel-New York. What proportion were via Dublin-Baldonnel-New York and vice versa?
I do not know the proportion for the destinations involved. I am merely pointing out that each mission consists of a number of flights. They are not counted on the basis of individual hops, as described by Deputy Kenny. Each mission is what is counted. Even if there are three or four flights or landings, that is a mission, and they are counted as such.
To clarify the matter further, will the Taoiseach give the total number of air miles or flying hours on that aircraft?
Would the Deputy like to know the altitude?
That might be the subject of another question.
It follows naturally.
I do not know the figures, but there is no problem getting them.
In reply to my question, the Taoiseach rather flippantly said that staff would serve organic lettuce on the plane.
I am sorry, Deputy, that does not arise.
My question is supplementary to what the Taoiseach said. Will the Taoiseach outline how much he has spent on food, particularly on indulgences such as chocolates and champagne?
Bullseyes.
After Eights.
I have no idea how much has been spent on chocolates or champagne. I have never seen champagne on the Government jet. I will check it out but I do not think there is any.
There are no chocolates either.
I do not eat chocolates.
Someone is eating them.
The pilots have scoffed them all.