Ministers run up €3m bill for use of state aircraft

The Irish taxpayer reportedly paid almost €3m last year for the use of state aircraft and helicopters by government ministers.

Reports this morning said Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern racked up the highest bill of €857,000, followed by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at €643,000.

A massive €168,000 was reportedly spent on Dermot Ahern's six-day journey to some of the places worst-hit by the Asian tsunami at the beginning of last year.

The minister used the government jet to visit several tsunami-stricken areas, including Phuket in Thailand and Banda Aceh in Indonesia.