Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to sell one of the two Government jets in view of the fact that ministerial air transport has reduced significantly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42206/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The ministerial air transport service, MATS, provides the Government and the President with an independent flexible and effective air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations. The service is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. The Gulfstream IV was acquired in December 1991 and has accumulated more than 12,000 flying hours to date. The Learjet entered service in January 2004 and has accumulated more than 2,000 flying hours to date. The Learjet 45 was purchased as a replacement for the Beechcraft Super King Air, which continued to be used until January 2009 as a backup aircraft for the MATS, in addition to its primary role as a pilot training aircraft. However, it is no longer available for ministerial air transport or any other taskings and there is effectively no fixed-wing back up to the dedicated MATS aircraft.

The Learjet 45 has the capacity to carry seven passengers and is tasked with short and medium-haul missions to the United Kingdom and Europe. The Gulfstream IV has the capacity to carry 14 passengers and can be tasked with long-haul missions to destinations such as the United States, Africa and the Middle East, as well as to European destinations. All requests for ministerial air transport are subject to the authorisation of the Taoiseach, taking into account several factors. These include the necessity to undertake the engagement, the amount of notice received, the demands of the particular schedule, the availability and suitability of other travel arrangements, overall cost considerations, the numbers in the delegation and security considerations. The stringent criteria which have always applied ensure that only justified travel is undertaken on MATS and this continues to be the case. The demand for ministerial air transport, allied with the advantages it provides, continues to justify the requirement for a service provided by two aircraft.

To date in 2009, more than 100 missions have been completed, including missions to the United States, South America, the Middle East and Chad on the Gulfstream IV, as well as missions to Egypt and Sudan on the Learjet, along with missions to the United Kingdom and Europe. The Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft also perform a range of non-MATS taskings, such as humanitarian, air ambulance and military transport missions. There are no plans at present to dispose of the Gulfstream IV or the Learjet 45 and any future decision in this regard is a matter for the Government.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I note that in 1998, for example, Government aircraft flew 261 missions, while last year they flew 191 missions. To date in 2009, which is almost at an end, there have been just 100 missions. The fact that demand is falling makes one wonder whether there is a need for two Government jets in this time of financial difficulty, on which the Minister so often lectures us even when answering questions on defence matters. Has the Government conducted any review in the past year, under the direction of the Taoiseach, of the use of the Government jets? There must be a direction from somewhere because the missions have been reduced. Ministers are not using them to the extent that they did at one stage. There is obviously no policy to sell off one of the jets but is there one to reduce their use? Are Ministers obliged, or advised, to use scheduled flights?

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

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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I take the point that this is not the time to dispose of either of the jets but Deputy Deenihan's question is valid. Are they both required? Could ministerial travel not be scheduled in such a way that one jet would be sufficient? One could be put into mothballs which would bring down costs. Has that option been considered?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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We continue to consider all options. The Government jets are not used only for ministerial transport. They are also used in air ambulance missions, for example, the latest figures available to me for 2008 show that the Air Corps completed six search and rescue missions and 87 air ambulance missions, which is significant. The initial figures I have received for 2009 show that those figures have not diminished. The jets are put to several uses. We will continue to review the situation.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Has the possibility of renting out the jets to private organisations to raise funds or subsidise their use been considered? It may in some circumstances be a useful way to make money given that the Taoiseach has said we must consider all options and get more for less.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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To my knowledge that has not been considered.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister consider it?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Maybe now that the Deputy has mentioned it.