Vol. 434 No. 10
3 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the use of the Gulf Stream Jet for transatlantic flights represents the most cost-effective means of transporting Government Ministers and officials.
The Ministerial air transport service confers numerous advantages: it has proved to be extremely flexible where changes in departure times can be made to meet changing timetables; the availability of the aircraft for special tasks in times of crisis ensures independence of movement on critical occasions; its value has been proven during EMS, fishery and CAP negotiations and emergency occasions when scheduled air services could not be availed of; security is enhanced; the service can operate from military bases using military navigational aids and other facilities; the aircraft provides instant radio telephonic communications as required and confidential discussions or other work can also be carried out while airborne to and from destinations. For these reasons I am satisfied that the maintenance and operation of the service in its present form is fully justified.
I thank the Minister for his reply. The reason I put down this supplementary was my concern about a discussion I had recently. Is it true that during the recent crisis involving the Digital plant in Galway the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Quinn, and his party flew to Boston by Government jet at a cost to the Exchequer of approximately twice what it would cost on the national airline?
That seems to be a special matter worthy of a separate question.
I would suggest that the Deputy put down a question for the next occasion when I am answering parliamentary questions or, alternatively, I can give the information to him either publicly or privately. It is interesting to note that the Gulfstream IV carried its first passenger in March 1992. In the year up to March 1993 it had undertaken 203 missions, carried 2,046 passengers and flown 723 hours. The use of this jet is real value for money.
I will take the matter up with the Minister at a later stage.
