Taoiseach flew to eastern Europe on private plane this week despite Government jet being available

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar flew to eastern Europe for an official visit on a private plane – even though the Government jet was airworthy and available, it has emerged.

The Irish Mirror can reveal that Mr Varadkar headed to the Balkans on Wednesday on a French-built Dassault Falcon 2000 LXSprivate jet – at a cost of at least €30,000.

That’s despite the fact that the troubled Government jet had been declared airworthy since before Christmas – and was involved in flying operations this week.

READ MORE – Government set to spend over €45 million on new ministerial jet

Sources have confirmed to The Irish Mirror that the Government jet – a Learjet 45 which has been in service since 2004 – was flying training and other operations this week, but government officials decided to hire the 2020 built Falcon instead for the Taoiseach’s two day visit to Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro.

The Falcon, which was hired from an international private jet business, is larger and wider than the Learjet 45, which is operated by Air Corps personnel.

But both planes can carry between eight and 10 passengers.

The Learjet has frequently broken down in recent years and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told reporters in Kosovo on Thursday that it was no longer reliable.

A Learjet 45

He said: “The Learjet is still in use but mainly for air ambulance, it’s unfortunately no longer reliable so can only be used on a very limited basis and for the past number of months, maybe the past year, we’ve been using private hire and that’s been necessary.”

And he added that the Learjet simply did not have the range to reach the Balkans without refuelling.

He said: “The Learjet, which is our current jet, doesn’t get that far, can’t get to America, can’t get to Lebanon, if it had been in use today, it would have had to refuel on the way.

“We had a Gulf Stream a long time ago which worked much better – it’s that kind of aircraft that we want to replace and certainly won’t be just for ministerial transport.”

The Government has now tendered for a new jet that will be used by the Air Corps to carry VIPs as well as take part in military operations – such as flying to Lebanon as part of Ireland’s UN mission there.

The new plane will cost around €45 million but will not be in operation for at least a year – which means the government will have to hire more private jets for VIP trips until then.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Defence last night told The Irish Mirror that private jets were only hired when no Air Corps craft were available.

She said: “The Government’s Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) is delivered primarily by the use of the Learjet 45 aircraft.

“Other Air Corps aircraft, including the CASA 235 and the Pilatus PC-12, may also be used.

“Where suitable Air Corps aircraft are not available, contingency arrangements in the form of an alternative service are in place.

“These contingency arrangements are in use from time to time for members of the Government where other options are not available.

“In the current case, the journey involves visiting three countries in 48 hours.

“Given that the Learjet is currently approaching its natural end of life, having been in service since 2004, the Department of Defence is presently conducting a tender competition to acquire a new mid-sized jet aircraft for Ministerial Air Transport.

“In addition to delivering that MATS, the new aircraft will also be used for a broader range of tasks.

“The estimated price is circa €45m plus VAT.”