Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

As I said, there is a requirement for a ministerial air transport service. There is an ongoing requirement for the Government and the President to maintain active economic, political and cultural relations with countries not only in Europe but across the globe. We regularly have to participate in international discussions and negotiations with bodies such as the European Union and the United Nations. Fulfilling those international obligations necessarily involves substantial air travel by members of Government and the President. The travel arrangements required cannot always be met by commercial airline companies, which is why we need the service we have. It provides the Government and the President with an independent, flexible and effective air transport service that helps us to meet our international obligations.

Maintaining a dedicated aircraft has several advantages over a reliance on commercial air travel. The service is more flexible in that it is not tied to set routes, timetables or schedules. For example, where European Union meetings end up taking longer than expected, it is vital that departure times can be altered as required at short notice. The service helps Ministers to fulfil all their duties both at home and abroad to the greatest extent possible and to carry out those duties with the maximum efficiency having regard to increasingly busy portfolios and the availability of the service for special tasks. In times of crisis it ensures independence of movement for those who require it. In short, it is a matter of recognising that the commercial airline industry does not provide sufficiently for the workings of modern government in any country. This service is necessary to ensure people can attend to their duties and do their business on behalf of the country and can return as quickly as possible once those duties are fulfilled.

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