Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 2: To ask the Minister for Defence the flights made by aircraft in the Ministerial Air Transport Service on 21 September 2007; the destination in each case; the passenger list for each flight; the purpose of each trip; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22106/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The ministerial air transport service is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. The Beech Super Kingair 200 turboprop aircraft, which is now used primarily in a training role, is made available for ministerial air transport use from time to time, mainly for internal flights and a limited number of European destinations.

On 21 September 2007, the Gulfstream IV aircraft flew from Dublin to Paris carrying the Taoiseach, Deputy Bertie Ahern, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, and ten officials from the Departments of the Taoiseach and Foreign Affairs. Neither the Learjet 45 nor the Beech Super Kingair 200 was used by Ministers on that day.

Requests for the use of the service are made by Ministers' private secretaries to the Taoiseach's office where they are examined with regard to the need and purpose of travel. Once approved, all operational matters are settled directly between the Minister in question and my Department. My Department does not hold details concerning the purpose of ministerial air transport trips, which is a matter for individual Ministers.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for his kind words at the outset and I look forward to working with him.

I take it the Minister is saying that the Gulfstream jet was used to carry the Taoiseach and one Minister, and that was all the official transport used to Paris on that particular day. Other Ministers were present in Paris, but I understand they did not use Government transport.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Yes.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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That certainly clarifies the position for me. In that case, reports that the Minister of State, Deputy Dick Roche, used the jet or, indeed, that there was a late flight for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan are incorrect.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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As I understand it, the Minister of State, Deputy Dick Roche, was elsewhere. He did not travel to Paris on that day on the Gulfstream jet. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, went the previous day on the Lear Jet 45. The only people on the Government jet, as it is known, on that day, were the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and ten officials from their Departments.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Does the Minister think it was a coincidence that so many Ministers converged on Paris that day, bearing in mind that there was a World Cup rugby match that night? They may not all have used the transport on that day but it seems that people were anxious to get there.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Their presence in Paris might have had the opposite effect.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I hope not but to judge by what happened in the match against Argentina I assume not.