TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has voiced his concern that it is taking a “long time” to procure a new government jet.  

Speaking to The Journal in Brussels this morning, he said a policy decision to purchase a new plane was made some time ago.

“But it seems it’s a complicated process,” said Varadkar.

The Taoiseach said it was “very important” that “it’s not seen just as a government jet -  it’s about being able to get to the US, being able to get to Lebanon, so we can connect with our military over there, and also evacuate citizens as needed.

So certainly not just for ministers. 

His comments come after the Taoiseach had to make alternative travel arrangements to get to Brussels today for the European Council meeting due to the government’s Learjet and the Air Corps PC-12 plane being out of action.

It is understood the government had to lease a private jet for the Taoiseach and his delegation.

A government spokesperson told The Journal yesterday: 

“The Department of Defence is currently working on the procurement process to acquire a new aircraft for the Ministerial Air Transport Service. Where the Learjet is not available, for serviceability or other reasons, contingency arrangements are put in place.”

 Issues with the government jet and the Air Corps PC-12 plane, which was being used as a substitute, also led to travel disruption for the Tánaiste Micheál Martin this week, who was stuck in Luxembourg as a result. 

The Tánaiste had to take a commercial flight back to Ireland due to the problem.

It subsequently emerged today that the flight problem experienced by the Tánaiste was a factor in the heated disagreements that took place at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting over a possible change in policy relating to Ukrainian refugee accommodation.

As a result of the problem with the Air Corps plane the Tánaiste was due to travel on, Martin ended up missing the coalition leaders meeting on Monday evening due to being stranded in Luxembourg.

The Monday evening meetings of Martin, Varadkar and Eamon Ryan take place the night before every Cabinet meeting and were set up to ensure that there are no surprises the next morning. 

While there was no memo brought to Cabinet on the accommodation issue, the matter was raised by Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman.

It’s understood his raising of the issue caused confusion, as Martin had understood that a discussion would take place at a later Cabinet meeting when a memo would be presented to government with concrete proposals.

Plans for a new jet

The Air Corps Learjet was purchased in 2004 and has been in operation since then.

Government sources have said that the procurement of the new jet could take two to three years, meaning that it will not be of benefit to the current Government. 

It is understood that the Government is looking to purchase a ten-seater aircraft.

Leasing an aircraft was ruled out due to it costing the taxpayer more money in the long term, it is believed.

While no cost has been attached yet to the new purchase, sources state smaller aircraft cost around €50 million, so the cost of the new ten-seater plane could exceed this amount.

The Government once had two jets, but the Gulfstream IV plane was sold in 2017 for €418,000.

There was controversy at the time over the sale price, given that the jet was valued at somewhere in the region of €750,000. It was bought in 1992 for €45 million.

With reporting from Jane Matthews.