Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Deputy Gilmore is in a facetious mood today whatever is wrong with him. The decision to return to Baldonnel Aerodrome before travelling back to Copenhagen was made by the Air Corps for operational reasons. The Copenhagen Airport authority advised the Air Corps that due the large number of aircraft expected for the summit, the GIV jet could not overnight in Copenhagen. Having regard to this, the Air Corps received permission to return to Baldonnel on 17 December and reposition to Copenhagen on 18 December to complete the mission. This was done in order to facilitate essential pilot training and for reasons of operational expediency.

All Government flights are taken into account in regard to carbon off-sets and I am sure this particular flight will be included in that.

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