Defence buys 45 escort motor cycles

THE government has offset some of the cost of buying 45 new escort motor cycles by trading-in 41 older bikes — but is still likely to have to hand over an additional €435,000.

The Department of Defence yesterday announced that it had secured the supply of the 45 escort of honour motor cycles, which are typically used in motor cavalcades during official visits by overseas dignitaries and other state occasions.

According to a departmental spokesperson, the new Honda NT650s will be delivered next month, with Honda taking back 41 of the department’s older motorcycles, which were purchased in 1998.