Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Minister for Defence the position regarding the Government jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35205/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) provides the Government and the President with an independent and flexible air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations. This flexibility was particularly valuable during Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union last year. The Service has been provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. The Gulfstream IV has the capacity to carry 14 passengers and is tasked with long haul missions whilst the Learjet 45 has a capacity to carry seven passengers and is tasked with short and medium haul missions. On the 27^thof July last, the Gulfstream IV aircraft, which has been in service for 23 years, travelled to the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation facility in Georgia, USA, for its annual maintenance inspection. During the inspection, issues were discovered with the aircraft’s undercarriage. My Department is currently in consultation with Gulfstream in relation to this situation. Meanwhile, the MATS is being provided by the Learjet 45 aircraft.

I will bring a memorandum to Cabinet on this matter in due course.