'Embarrassment': €7,000-per-hour aircraft takes Tánaiste to Middle East after Learjet breaks down

On at least three occasions, senior members of the Government have ended up 'stranded' overseas when the jet broke down while tasked with bringing them back to Ireland

The Department of Defence has had to organise more than half a dozen charter flights for office holders over the past 18 months with the €8m Learjet dogged by technical issues and a series of breakdowns.

The Government had to charter a €7,000-per-hour business aircraft to take Tánaiste Micheál Martin to the Middle East after the Government’s Learjet broke down again last week leaving Taoiseach Leo Varadkar “stranded” in Paris.

One of the Air Corps Pilatus PC-12 planes was dispatched to collect Mr Varadkar from the French capital despite concerns over using those aircraft for transporting either the Taoiseach or the President.