Government jet - Ahern must take head from clouds

THE glare of the spotlight is sharply focused on cutbacks in health, education, community projects, and other vital public services

It must be stated at the outset, however, that an overwhelming case exists for the Government having such a facility at its disposal.

In an era when corporate executives travel the globe in company planes, Ireland would become a laughing stock if the story went out that we could not afford an official jet.

For marketing a nation at the cutting edge of the technology and food industries, it goes without saying the Taoiseach and his fellow ministers should be provided with an efficient form of transport for the conduct of this country's international relations. Given Ireland's impending presidency of the European Union, the matter takes on even greater significance.

But it is important to guarantee that any new jet purchased by the Department of Defence actually works. To date, the administration's record in the jet stream resembles the log book of a clapped-out car.

Last month, for example, the Taoiseach's official visit to Mexico ended in fiasco when his plane broke down on the runway. Facing the embarrassment of waiting for a new part to be flown out, Mr Ahern returned home by commercial airline.

A year ago, the same jet was forced to abort a landing at Dublin Airport after a mechanical fault was identified in the nose wheel. It was due to collect the Taoiseach at the time. Twelve months earlier, it had to go to Switzerland for repairs, following a second aborted landing in a week.

In May 2001, the Government was red faced when the Taoiseach could not keep an appointment with the United Nations Secretary General because the jet was grounded.

In June 1997, the Taoiseach's departure for Paris was delayed when the plane developed a fault and had to be grounded.

All this smacks of Ballymagash. As a nation, we can do without the humiliating spectre of the Taoiseach standing on the runway of an airport in Mexico waiting to hitch a ride home, because Ireland's official jet has broken down yet again.

In what can only be described as an unmitigated PR disaster, the decision to buy a new jet has been perceived by the public as pandering to political egos at a time when schools are rat infested and hospitals overcrowded.

People are finding difficulty comprehending why the coalition needs a fleet of three jets. Defence Minister Michael Smith has to put forward more convincing arguments. He should also explain why the present planes seem to spend more time on the ground than in the air.

Against this backdrop, it is hard to blame people for thinking the money could be better spent. That said, however, it is refreshing to see the Taoiseach willing to grasp this nettlesome question.

If Mr Ahern and his Government displayed the same decisiveness on other issues, for instance by taking on vested interests in the health sector, rooting out corruption, or making the Church pay its fair share of abuse compensation, Ireland would be the better of it.