GOVERNMENT MINISTERS have used State-owned helicopters and aircraft for internal flights on 10 occasions this year, according to information released by the Department of Defence.
The information, obtained by Fine Gael TD for Mayo Michael Ring, shows of seven Ministers have used Air Corps aircraft to travel within Ireland.
In January, a helicopter travelling from Baldonnel airport in Dublin picked up the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern in Dundalk Barracks to travel to an event in Letterkenny. The Minister was dropped off in Dundalk as the helicopter returned to Baldonnel.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin was picked up in Belfast for a trip back to Dublin, also in January.
In February, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey travelled twice by helicopter, both times on journeys between Trim in Co Meath and Shannon airport.
A helicopter originating from Baldonnel picked up Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen in Waterford in March brought him to Killarney and returned him to Dublin. That trip came to public attention when the helicopter broke down.
In the same month, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan was brought from the GAA pitch in Donegal town to the Phoenix Park in Dublin.
There were three trips in April. Two involved Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe who was transported from Cork to Raphoe and then back to Farranfore, in Co Kerry over two days. He was attending annual meetings of the teachers unions at the time.
The last trip documented for 2009 took place later in April when a helicopter transported Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan from the Phoenix Park in Dublin to Rathkeale in Co Limerick and back again.
According to the figures supplied by the department, the total flying time for ministers was almost 13 hours.
The total cost of using the smaller Eurocopter EC135 for those trips would be in the region of €20,500.
In his reply to Mr Ring’s parliamentary questions, Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea also discloses that 12 trips were taken by dignitaries other than Government Ministers this year, four by helicopter and eight by fixed-wing aircraft. No indication was given how many, if any, of these trips were taken by President Mary McAleese.
In the Dáil recently, Mr Ring criticised the use of helicopters to transport prominent political figures for internal flights. He referred to a helicopter trip to the Connacht football final in Co Roscommon last year.