Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the plans that are in place regarding the Government jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4738/23]

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Government Learjet, LJ, 45 was bought for €8 million in 2004. I understand it is now in a pretty poor state of repair and that officials in the Department have recommended that it be replaced. I would like an update on where that situation is at.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his helpful question. The ministerial air transport service, MATS, is delivered primarily by use of the Learjet 45 aircraft, which came into operation in 2004. Where it is unavailable, the CASA and-or other Air Corps aircraft may be used. The Learjet is currently approaching its natural end of life. Based on current serviceability issues, discontinuation of manufacturer support and limited part availability for this type of older aircraft, the Air Corps estimates that the aircraft will require replacement by 2024 at the latest. As such, in line with the public spending code, an interdepartmental high-level group of officials, the MATS review group, chaired by my Department, was established in 2021 to examine options for delivery of the ministerial air transport service. The capability of this service to carry out a broader utility role for the State, in terms of tasks and reach beyond Europe, was also examined. In situations like what happened in Afghanistan last year, there is a need for the State to have strategic reach.

During 2022, the MATS review group produced both an agreed strategic assessment report and a preliminary business case, the latter of which contained a detailed financial appraisal and economic assessment conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers. These reports were supplemented by the inclusion of additional market research on suitable options for the acquisition of a second-hand aircraft, with the assistance of an independent aviation consultant. I have reviewed the various strands of work conducted to date and have approved the recommendation made by my officials. Ultimately, the State needs a replacement aircraft that provides a broad utility role, including strategic reach in crisis situations and medical evacuation, as well as ministerial air transport. My officials will now move to progress to procurement phase. A project team is currently being established and planning for a procurement competition for replacement capability will commence shortly. The procurement will consider both new and second-hand replacement capability. The outcome of any procurement competition will be subject to further deliberation and consideration in line with the public spending code.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for the update. The Government is taking a sensible approach. In November 2008, the Mexican Government, which also flies LJ45s, had a major crash above Mexico City. The very same plane the Government uses-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Just to cheer you up.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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If I can continue the point, please.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Sorry.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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That plane crashed that night. All nine passengers on board, including Mexico's interior minister, were killed, as well as seven people on the ground, which was 16 people killed in total. It is very important that technology is kept up to date and kept safe. Many years ago I used to pilot planes myself. Pilots do not like taking to a plane that is unsafe or may not be fully up to spec in its equipment or maintenance. It is important not just for government purposes, although that is what everyone will hone in on here, but for humanitarian missions and medical evacuations. I know people in my constituency who have been taken to life-saving surgeries in other countries. This is so important for our country. We cannot expect members of the Government to be going around in rickshaws and we cannot just magic children who are overseas or Irish people who need to be repatriated home. We need a way of getting them home safely and I think this is a sensible decision.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Deputy's contribution. His insights are valuable. I did not realise he was a pilot at one stage.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Out of many talents.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I take the point. The Deputy referred to the Mexican Government crash. That was a shocking crash and a shocking loss of life. There have been issues with the Learjet. There is no point in saying otherwise. There have been serious issues with it. I am not prepared to stand over it. A replacement jet is required. In Afghanistan, we essentially had to depend on other governments to get places on planes for Irish citizens we needed to evacuate quickly. That strategic reach is important. As the Deputy said, medical transport and evacuation is also important, plus the numerous duties and ministerial obligations, for European meetings in particular, are such that we need to deal with this once and for all.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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It is very important in projecting Ireland to the world but also getting Irish people back home safely when required. It is a sensible decision and I am glad the Government is moving on it.

I will ask one question in my final few seconds. Now that we are in the decade of centenaries and the Civil War is being commemorated, I am seeing photographs pop up every weekend. There was one of Youghal, County Cork the other day where Sinn Féin Deputies were walking down the street with people in paramilitary uniforms.

Does the Minister think it is right that a member of the Opposition, who purports to be the shadow Minister for Defence, should march and walk in step with people who do not wear the uniform of our Defence Forces but who wear black berets and sunglasses walking our streets? Is that not wrong? Is it not insulting to the men and women who protect our country, who don that uniform, some of whom have even lost their lives defending Ireland? There is only one Army in Ireland. I ask that during his tenure, the Minister might consider imposing an outright ban on the wearing of paramilitary uniforms at such events. It totally rewrites and distorts what is a proud and sometimes divisive history in our land, but it is wrong. We must call it out as well. If Deputy Brady is Opposition spokesperson on defence, he cannot talk for one Army yet stand and march down the street with another.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It will be future governments that benefit from a replacement jet because the procurement process is such that it will take a bit of time. I do believe it was time to commence the process because an inordinate time was taken to consider it. My view is that we should move ahead on that front. Future governments and the people, in terms of our capacity, will benefit.

I have always been of the view that there is only one Óglaigh na hÉireann and that is the Irish Defence Forces. Everybody should honour that and accept that reality. We should be very clear about the avoidance of any alternative military paraphernalia, parades and the like. There can be occasions when people are re-enacting historic moments, for example schools or commemorative ceremonies, but that is different to what Deputy Crowe references. There is only one Óglaigh na hÉireann.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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There is only slightly more than one minute remaining, so we might come to a conclusion at this stage, depending on what Members want, but there will not be time for an answer.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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Could I ask a brief question?

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy has 30 seconds.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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That will do. There is an issue with the pandemic bonus being paid to retired members of the Defence Forces. I spoke to one medic who had carried out his duties in vaccination centres and swab testing centres who retired during the Covid pandemic. He has yet to receive the bonus. I would appreciate if the Minister could come back to me with what the plan is to address this. The Defence Forces cannot process it as he is no longer on their payroll.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will follow that up.