Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of journeys made on Government aircraft by Ministers or staff of his Department or its agencies to date in 2007; the origin and destination of each journey; the cost of each journey to the State; the reason a Government aircraft was used rather than scheduled air travel or surface travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15467/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since the beginning of 2007, I, Ministers of State and staff of my Department have made 8 journeys on Government aircraft. The journeys undertaken were as follows:

International Flights:

Minister Martin

Baldonnel-Cork-Paris, 14 January 2007 — EI Trade Mission

Baldonnel-Cork-Brussels-Baldonnel, 19 February 2007 — Competitiveness Council

Minister Ahern

Baldonnel-Cork-Brussels-Cork-Baldonnel, 11 February 2007 — Informal meeting of Trade Ministers

Baldonnel-Cork-Paris-Baldonnel, 20 February 2007 — Meeting with French Trade Minister

Domestic flights:

Baldonnel-Cork-Knock-Cork-Baldonnel, 22 February 2007 — Jobs announcement and Company events

Baldonnel-Cork-Baldonnel, 27 March 2007 — Jobs announcement

Baldonnel-Cork-Baldonnel, 29 March 2007 — Jobs announcement

Baldonnel-Cork-Baldonnel, 25 April 2007 —Pharma/Biotech industry dinner.

The cost of flights on Government aircraft is a matter for the Department of Defence. Government aircraft are used where scheduled commercial flights are not available or are not feasible given tight schedules.