The Tánaiste flew from Dublin to Cork by Government jet yesterday evening to attend her party conference on her return from the Pope's funeral in Rome.
The jet bringing the Taoiseach, the Fine Gael leader and Mary Harney from Rome landed at Dublin airport yesterday at 4pm, where Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny disembarked. It then continued to Cork to bring Ms Harney to her conference.
While the jet is not normally available to ministers for purely party business, a spokesman for the Tánaiste said last night that the circumstances justified its use. He said Ms Harney normally travels to her party conference by private means the night before it opens, allowing her attend some meetings before the conference begins. She could not do so on this occasion, he said, because she had to represent the Government in Rome.
Because this unforeseen Government function had made it impossible to get to Cork in time by any other means, he said, the use of the Government jet was justified.
A special ecumenical prayer service to mark the death of the Pope was held in Cork's Silver Springs Hotel, the conference venue, at 8pm last night. Ms Harney then addressed a party dinner which began at 8.30pm.
Mark Brennock