Taoiseach defends €3.6m cost of State jets

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday defended the €3.6 million costs of operating the Government’s jets and revealed a nervousness about using helicopter services.

Insisting his ministers have not taken advantage of the Government jet service, the Taoiseach told the Dáil that while Britain would take two full jets and 500 staff to the European Council tomorrow, Ireland would take one jet and a dozen staff.

Mr Ahern also informed the Dáil that the helicopter service is no longer used to the same extent as he is nervous about flying in them “We used to use the helicopter service a lot in earlier years but I do not do so, for personal reasons. I do not use the landing pad because I do not like it,” he said.