Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has used helicopters for any purpose for each year since 2002 to date in 2008; the reason for such use; the suppliers of the helicopter; the dates and locations visited and distance travelled; the cost of same and persons carried; if quotations were sought for such trips; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12421/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Since becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have not used a helicopter in the State, either hired or State provided. I understand that my colleague, the Minister of Defence, will shortly provide details of any travel undertaken by my Department using helicopters engaged by the Irish Defence Forces since 2002.

There have been occasions where I, and officials from my Department, have been passengers on a helicopter provided by either another country or by an international organisation while engaged in official travel abroad. A recent instance was during my visit to Chad in mid November. On that occasion, a helicopter was used to take our party from Abeche to Goz Beida and back as there was no other practical option. There was no charge to the exchequer as the facility was provided gratis by the French military authorities. In Darfur, Sudan, helicopters have also been used to travel to areas where it is dangerous or impossible to move by road. These helicopters were provided gratis by the United Nations.

In the time available, it has not been possible to carry out an exhaustive search throughout our network of 75 missions abroad. However, I can advise the Deputy that there has been a need for my Department to engage helicopter services on a number of occasions from 2002 to date.

Helicopters were hired by my Department, as part of our EU Presidency obligations, for the official 'Day of Welcomes' for EU accession States on 1 May 2004. These helicopters were used to transfer visiting Heads of State. The company used was Irish Helicopters and the cost incurred was €159,723. The company was chosen from an approved panel of three suppliers. The decision to use helicopters in the first instance and to engage Irish Helicopters was based on a variety of security and logistical needs.

During a visit by the Advisory Board for Irish Aid to Cambodia on 20 March 2007 it was necessary for the delegation to travel by helicopter from Siem Reap to Boeng Ta Srei and back in order to see the de-mining activities of Halo Trust, which is in receipt of funding from Irish Aid. Helicopter transport was the only option in order to visit this remote area in the timeframe available. The helicopter was provided by Helicopters Cambodia at a cost of $3,649 USD and the delegation comprised three members of the Advisory Board and two officials from my Department.

In March 2008 an Advisory Board for Irish Aid delegation of four members, accompanied by two officials, used helicopter transport from Freetown in Sierra Leone to the Airport. This was the only transport option available and the helicopter was supplied by the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) at a cost of $870USD.

Of all the Programme Countries in the Irish Aid programme, Lesotho is the country in which helicopter travel is most necessary, owing to the remoteness and inaccessibility by road of many locations. In most instances helicopter travel is provided by the Government of Lesotho Defence Air-force wing. Some of this transport is paid for by the Government of Lesotho and some charges fall to Irish Aid. For example, in February of this year helicopter transport was provided for an evaluation team to a number of facilities at a cost of €930.