Taoiseach made almost half of Government jet trips

on 29/07/2012 11:28:09

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has made use of the Government's private jet more than any other cabinet member, accounting for 45% of the trips taken on the plane since taking office last March.

According to the Sunday Independent, Enda Kenny has used the Government jet 26 times - four of these trips were to the US and had a combined cost of €206,000.

The Taoiseach has used the €3,790-an-hour Gulfstream GIV jet to fly to Brussels mostly, but has also taken in destinations including Washington, London and Berlin.

However, use of the Government jet by the Cabinet has declined overall, with Transport Minster Leo Varadkar this week telling reporters at the MacGill Summer School that this was due to a fear of media criticism.