Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy said that I occasionally lecture the House on matters of finance. My lecturing days are long behind me. I do not lecture now, I inform.

The jets would be called wasting assets for the purpose of capital gains tax. Deputy O'Shea pointed out the undesirability of selling fixed property due to the bad market conditions. I do not imagine there is a good market for a Government jet, particularly one that has clocked up 12,000 flying hours. An island nation that is now thankfully at the centre of Europe, conducting trade and maintaining diplomatic relations all over the world, surely needs its own mode of transport. The Government of the Czech Republic has its own aircraft and somebody told me lately that the Government of Cameroon has acquired its own aircraft. The need is obvious. It gives us flexibility because we can use military airfields which brings us closer to our destinations and we are not stuck with the fixed schedules and timetables etc.

In response to Deputy Deenihan's question about Government policy I am looking at the figures. Usage is down on last year although we have not reached the end of this year yet. I suppose people are looking more closely at alternative means of transport. Ryanair does not fly to Chad so if I go to visit the troops I have no option but to use the Government jet. Maybe some people take the view that even if it is more inconvenient they will use commercial transport. All Departments have been directed to be as prudent as possible, not just in their use of the Government jet but in all matters involving the expenditure of State resources, which is reflected in the reduced usage of the Government jet.

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