Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

It may have been a coincidence but I am sure that if the Deputy tabled questions to the Taoiseach and each of those Ministers they would be well able to handle them. I am sure they all had important business in Paris. We do not inquire about that. Once the criteria are met we make the jet available. That is the function of the Department of Defence.

It is true that there was a rugby match that weekend and Ireland was fighting for her life. It was no hardship to the players, who were trying to win under difficult circumstances in a foreign country against a home team, to have support in the stands from the Government.

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