New cabinet jet to cost over €8.5m

THE Government yesterday completed the purchase of a new jet costing over €8.5 million.

The jet will join the existing jet in the fleet used for transporting ministers. The Government had originally planned to replace also the main jet but cancelled the order due to the deteriorating public finances.

However, the Green Party said no convincing argument had been made for the purchase of jet, as it was a luxury. The jet may also have difficulty in landing at some regional airports, they claimed.

The Bombardier Learjet 45 light business jet holds up to nine and is being paid for by money saved from the reduction in the cost of army deafness claims.

Minister for Defence Michael Smith signed the contract with Bombardier Aerospace for the jet. The aircraft, including training and spares, will cost €8.4m, excluding VAT. It will be ready in December and will replace the 23-year-old Beech King Air aircraft, commonly known as the Beechcraft, as a plane used for transporting ministers.

Bombardier is the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer and around half of the aircraft is made at its plant in Belfast.

According to Mr Smith, the new aircraft will meet the increased need for official travel during the forthcoming EU Presidency.

Mr Smith said: “The fact that the cost will be funded from savings that I have been able to achieve from the 2003 Estimates provision for hearing loss is a further indication of the Government’s prudent and responsible approach to public spending at a time of more difficult prevailing economic circumstances.”

Green Party defence spokesman John Gormley said that buying the Learjet on top of the existing government jet was a luxury at a time when the economy was having difficulties.

“One of the reasons given by the Government for the purchase of the new Learjet is that Ireland requires a new aircraft for the upcoming presidency of the European Union. The presidency lasts six months, for which an appropriate leasing arrangement could have been made,” he said.

Instead the Government was sending out the wrong signals to the electorate by indulging themselves with the Learjet. Some experts maintain the jet may have difficulty in landing at some regional airports, he said.

“This represents an inappropriate use of public money at a time when Mr McCreevy complains about the straitened circumstances of the exchequer, which prevents him from investing more in essential services like health and education,” Mr Gormley said.