Vol. 561 No. 5
107 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence if it is intended to acquire a jet aircraft for the ministerial air transport service, either by purchase or leasing, to replace the Gulfstream jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4682/03]
140 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence the number of times the Government jet has broken down in the past 12 months; the locations this occurred; the plans in progress to replace the Government jet; the estimated cost of such a replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4794/03]
150 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence if a tender has been awarded for the leasing of a ten to 12 seat executive aircraft to replace the Beech Kingair in the MATS; the anticipated annual cost of the proposed leasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4681/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 140 and 150 together.
The Gulfstream IV aircraft was leased for a period of ten years from December 1991 to December 2001 for use as a ministerial air transport aircraft. It was purchased in December 2001 on termination of the lease.
Owing to this country's assumption of the Presidency of the European Union in January 2004 and the proposed enlargement of the European Union in general, it is anticipated that demands on the ministerial air transport service will increase. The service is therefore being reviewed at present with a view to establishing the Government's needs during this country's Presidency of the European Union and its requirements in the longer term. The question of the retention or disposal of the Gulfstream IV together with the lease of a ten to 12 seater executive jet aircraft will be considered in the context of this review and a decision in the matter is expected shortly.
Since the Gulfstream IV aircraft was acquired in December 1991, it has flown a total of approximately 8,400 hours. The jet has broken down three times in the past 12 months as follows: 15 December 2002 at Baldonnel; 17 January 2003 in Mexico and 30 January 2003 at Baldonnel. The aircraft completes an annual maintenance inspection at a manufacturers approved maintenance facility. A 72-month maintenance inspection is scheduled to take place this summer. This is routine maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. The aircraft is currently fully airworthy.
Is it the situation that the Government has purchased a new jet or intends to purchase it?
The lease on the existing jet expired and it was fully purchased.
What was the cost of purchasing a new jet and will the Minister say—
I was referring to the existing Gulfstream IV aircraft, not a new jet.
Is it intended to purchase a new jet?
We have not come to that stage yet.
Is the Government considering the purchase of a new jet?
Yes.
It is being considered.
Yes.
Does the Minister consider, at a time when our primary and secondary schools are falling down for lack of repairs and when home help is not being paid to those who take care of our elderly, this expenditure can be justified?
I recall a conversation which a former Taoiseach, Dr. Garret FitzGerald, was said to have had with one of his colleagues about 20 years ago when he stated that one of the greatest mistakes made by the Government at that time was not having a Government jet to enable it to do its important business properly. There are enormous pressures on Government in terms of travel. This aircraft gives flexibility in that regard as well as providing a degree of privacy and facilitating travel at times when scheduled flights are not available. That is an important facet of the operation of Government. If many relatively small entrepreneurs in this country and elsewhere can afford this facility, the Government should be enabled to do its business quickly and effectively.
I note the points the Minister has made. In relation to the present Gulfstream jet, is it the intention to sell it and how much money would that realise? In relation to the capacity of a new jet, is it the Government's intention to acquire a larger jet next time? I understand from comments by some of the Minister's colleagues that the current jet is rather small.
We are becoming rather extravagant in this discussion today. Leaving that aside, the disposal of the Gulfstream IV against the purchase of a new aircraft is one option, but not one that I would personally support. On the question of aircraft size, the group which is considering the travel expectations for the President, the Taoiseach and Ministers and the requirements for Ireland's Presidency of the EU next year will take all aspects into account. We should have an outcome to that very soon, certainly within a week or two.
Do I understand correctly from the Minister's comments that it is intended to retain the current aircraft and acquire an additional one?
What I have said – the Deputy should not draw any other conclusion from it – is that the sale of the Gulfstream IV against the purchase of a new aircraft is not an option which I would suggest, but it may well be one which the Government might take. I do not know at this stage.
What does the Minister suggest?
I have given the Deputy my personal opinion. He has only to wait another week or two for the advice of the group which is dealing with this matter. He should be patient.
The Minister should tell the House the position.
Obviously some research work has already been done by Government on the replacement of the existing aircraft. What is the seating capacity of the existing one as compared with the proposed one? Is it true that the hangar at Baldonnel will have to be renovated considerably to accommodate anything even as large as the existing aircraft and that the existing aircraft has suffered as a result of inadequate cover at the hangar and, if so, what will be the associated expense?
Before the new hangar was built the aircraft may have suffered some damage which is immaterial at this stage because it would have been remedied—
Weather damage.
—but we have spent £4 million in Baldonnel building a new hangar to cater for existing and other aircraft.
A sum of £4 million for a garage.
It was a high priority for the Air Corps. The Deputy should not be laughing.
Was the rudder left sticking out at the back?
No, not after building the new hangar, but prior to that it was. This matter is under active consideration. I am not in a position to indicate what will be the outcome. People can put me under all the pressure they like. I gave an option, which I said myself I would not suggest. That was as far as I was prepared to go. We will have to wait until such time as we get the recommendation and then I will tell the House what it is. I want to be as open as possible.
Is consideration being made for another hangar? Considering the answer the Minister gave earlier that the Government is seeking to retain the old one and get a new one, the new hangar will not be capable of holding both.
No, the hangar is more than adequate to deal with the circumstances which might arise.
Can the Minister guarantee that the present aircraft is safe, given that it has broken down on so many occasions? It is a difficult question to answer, but if there are any doubts about the aircraft perhaps it should not be flying. Would the funding for the acquisition of a new aircraft come from the Minister's Department or from general Exchequer funds?
To answer the second question first, I would not have resources immediately open to me for the purchase of aircraft.
Will the Minister introduce an Estimate then?
Clearly any decision taken by the Government, following on the recommendation of the special group whose members are exercising their minds on this matter, must be the accompanied by a consideration of where resources would be found.
The Gulfstream IV is perfectly air-worthy. There have been a few high profile let-downs and they definitely cause a worry, but I have to rely on the technical advice I get from the specialists in that area. The specialists say it has run about half its lifetime at 8,400 hours flying time and possibly has had too many short flights. We are not sure what kind of pressure that can bring on, but it is perfectly air-worthy and has been flying perfectly.
I hope the Minister will not be evasive on this question. He outlined to the House the option he would not favour, that is, disposal of the present jet, but I would like him to outline clearly his preferred option. We are getting slowly to his position but I want him to spell it out.
There are a whole lot of things I want to happen but I am simply unable to make them happen, and the Deputy is not able to make that happen today.
This is ridiculous. Will the Minister just answer the question?
I have said all I want to say. Patience is a virtue.
We, on this side, need plenty of it.
The Chair knows all about patience.
I consider I need a bit of it with the Deputy too and I am not the only one in the House with that problem.
