Risk of Taoiseach getting 'stuck' overseas due to 'intolerable' Government jet

Emails have revealled there was now an almost 'generalised unavailability' of the Learjet because of the frequent breakdowns it has had. File picture: Óglaigh na hÉireann

Senior officials warned that reliability issues afflicting the Government’s ailing jet had become “intolerable”, with the risk of Taoiseach Micheál Martin getting “stuck” overseas for an extended period.

The €8m Learjet has been repeatedly out of service over the past year and a half with the Department of Defence earlier this year told to hire a charter plane for a trip to Paris and London by the Taoiseach and a delegation.