Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 13: To ask the Taoiseach the procedures in place in his Department for the use of the Government jet and other Air Corps aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32022/04]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 14: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the procedures in his Department for the use of the Government jet and other Air Corps aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34607/04]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 15: To ask the Taoiseach the procedures in place for the use of Government aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1385/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 15, inclusive, together.

The procedures I have outlined to the House previously, most recently on 25 November 2003, are unchanged. Use of the ministerial air transport service requires my approval. Procedurally, requests for use of the service are made by Ministers' private secretaries to my office and are dealt with by the staff of my office. Requests are examined by my staff with regard to the need and purpose of travel, the destination and other logistical details. Any necessary clarification or further information is sought at this point. All screened requests are then submitted to me for approval. Once approved, all operational matters are settled directly between the office of the Minister and the Department of Defence or Air Corps.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I assume the Taoiseach was unable to bring all 300 delegates with him in the jet when he travelled to China. The jet was used often in the last year because of the EU Presidency. Will the Taoiseach circulate a list of the approved uses of the Government jet in the last 12 months? Is the jet currently in use the only jet transport available to the Government? Has the Beechcraft been disposed of? Is the larger Government jet still available?

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Does it have a puncture?

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Taoiseach is probably the most famous socialist to have visited China in recent years.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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He was the only one out there.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Travelling in the smallest jet. So small that we are always last in the queue to take off.

The Beechcraft has been replaced by the Learjet to provide the ministerial air service. It is now mainly used by the Air Corps and would only be used for ministerial travel if nothing else was available and normally for local flights within the State. Some of my colleagues must use it to travel to Brussels on occasion.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Such hardship.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It takes a while to get there, it is quite a hardship.

The Learjet carried out 78 missions, mainly to various European locations during the Presidency. The Gulfstream IV is still in operation.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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So impressed was the Taoiseach with his Chinese visit, I was surprised that he did not declare himself a communist when he returned, following his recent transformation into a socialist.

Does the Government take stock of the impact of the carbon emissions from the jet? It is within the Taoiseach's remit so it could be done. Is the jet used within Ireland from time to time? What sort of journey would it make within the State, given that there are now plenty of roads and opportunities to travel by rail? Is there any need to use the jet within Ireland?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am not directly involved but I am sure the Minister for Defence and the Air Corps follow the highest environmental standards. The jet is rarely used within the State. The Beechcraft is usually used on short flights. The Gulfstream is used for long flights and, increasingly, we use the Learjet on the Brussels route. It is effective for short haul flights.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Does the Taoiseach know the annual running costs of the Government jets, the Learjet in particular? Is a value for money audit carried out into the annual running costs and the repayment schedule attached to it? Is the audit taken into account in determining the criteria for use of the jet?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the figures, the Department of Defence has them, but the service offers value for money and is efficient. Where easy alternatives are available, it is not used. Each case is screened to ensure it makes sense. Effort is always made to get Ministers to travel together to make it more cost effective. It is also useful to the Air Corps when it is not being used by the Government.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Is there a value for money audit?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The service has been looked at a number of times and it has been found to provide an efficient and cost effective service.