McAleese flew in government jet before lecturing the nation

Despite having two state cars, president took €2,950 an hour flight to Belfast

Ken Foxe

President Mary McAleese with her husband Martin in Belfast on Tuesday

President Mary McAleese used the government jet to fly from Dublin to Belfast on Tuesday, just two days before telling the people of Ireland that they all had to play a role in solving the country's problems.

McAleese opted to take the €2,950-an-hour Learjet flight despite having the use of two full-time garda cars and drivers. She opened a school and social centre in Belfast before flying back to Dublin.

The trip was one of two on the government jet that the president has made this month.

On 14 November, McAleese travelled on the jet to the North to present awards at a choir of the year competition that was taking place at the Waterfront Hall.

Air Corps sources told the Sunday Tribune that the cost of the two flights to Northern Ireland was likely to have been in the region of €9,000. On both occasions, a garda car also had to drop the president to the airport and another was dispatched to the North to collect her on arrival there.

On Thursday, McAleese said she understood the difficulties of the Irish people and said that everyone had a role to play in addressing the problems. "I want to acknowledge the understandable distress and dismay being experienced by people all around the country who feel fearful about their future," she said.

"We are confronted by massive problems and while so many of our people have had no role whatever in creating these problems, each one of us does now have a role in resolving them."

The president's office declined to make a statement on theuse of the government jet, saying it never comments on her travel arrangements.

A cloak of secrecy surrounded McAleese's travel arrangements on Tuesday and it is unclear if the jet picked her up at Dublin Airport or at Baldonnel Aerodrome.

She had a relatively late start in Belfast and was not due at the newly-completed St Dominic's Grammar School on the Falls Road until 10am. Leaving Dublin at 8am by car (especially with the benefit of a garda driver to whom speed limits do not apply) would have seen her arrive on time.

After the school opening, the president was driven to the Shaftesbury Community and Recreation Centre where she cut the ribbon on a new sports facility.

President McAleese had one more engagement in the Park Avenue Hotel, where she made an address to the St Columbanus Feast Day Lunch.

It is not the first time the spending practices and travel arrangements of the President have come under scrutiny, despite the fact her office remains exempt from Freedom of Information legislation.

A month ago, the Sunday Tribune revealed that a single night's stay for the president in a luxury hotel in Rome had cost €3,198.

The cost was revealed in a document released by the Department of Health, which detailed a €21,000 accommodation bill at the Hotel de la Minerve for just one night for the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.

Among the entourage was McAleese, her husband Martin, then taoiseach Bertie Ahern, health minister Mary Harney and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny.

November 28, 2010

Comments

#1 BarryW commented, on November 28, 2010 at 6:37 p.m.:

Another political hypocrite.....

#2 Mark commented, on November 28, 2010 at 6:46 p.m.:

Does as I say not as I do, here is another waste of public money, haven't we got enough ambassadors for 4 million people?

#3 Jaker commented, on November 28, 2010 at 6:59 p.m.:

For her penance, she should lose the (P) & be made become an ordinary resident again.

#4 knowtoomuch commented, on November 28, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.:

Mary Mary quite contrary how does your bank account grow.....Its a long way from north Belfast its along way to go.....north men south men comrades all give me your cash so fly high and tall.....Martin turn off the lights we are in a recssion you know...

#5 Gearoid commented, on November 28, 2010 at 7:15 p.m.:

Mceleese is financially secure for life and it is we and our children who will be picking up the bill; she should refrain from using the word ' we'. She and her kind do not have the right the speak for me or my kids. The token cut she took in wage still leaves with a salary that is so outrageous as to be immoral.

#6 Bruno commented, on November 28, 2010 at 7:19 p.m.:

Is it any wonder people have lost faith in politics and our supposed leaders when they clearly are far removed from the problems that are affecting the majority of us. They don't seem to care to be honest! McAleese is a total hyprocrite and there's no need for a president in a country as small as Ireland. Her position should be made redundant!

#7 Ken Francis commented, on November 28, 2010 at 8:19 p.m.:

"Let them eat cake"... The article omits to mention how all that time could have been used more profitably to help Ireland ('opportunity cost'). I know, I know - she did'nt want to disappoint the children. Like Cowen she is in position without being elected.... is there a lesson there?

#8 Fred simpson commented, on November 28, 2010 at 8:43 p.m.:

Nice to see that even though the state is insolvent, that the President and Marty can still display a lot of class.

It is all about priorities...

#9 Fergus commented, on November 28, 2010 at 10:17 p.m.:

Remember we did not elect her. There was no presidential election last time out. We have given away our hard fought democracy so we get "Imelda Marcos".

#10 Rita Mc Mahon commented, on November 29, 2010 at 1:26 a.m.:

SAD!!!!

#11 David Lawrence commented, on November 29, 2010 at 10:04 a.m.:

Typical. Another waste of public money by a self serving self important 'public servant'. The 'do as I say not as I do' ethos of our political establishment extends to all corners of public life sadly.

#12 tony commented, on November 29, 2010 at 10:58 a.m.:

this modern day Marie-Antoinette should be offering to take minimum wages now as a gesture of how were all in this together. She surely has had enough from the state teat to last several lifetimes.

#13 Mick Fin commented, on November 29, 2010 at 12:10 p.m.:

To compare Mary McAleese to Imelda Marcos is grossly unfair to Imelda Marcos.

#14 Hope commented, on November 29, 2010 at 2:55 p.m.:

She & her cohorts are surely taking the pee now....but what can one say about a woman who says that the catholic church was her inspiration, we all know corruption, greed, & chicanery, are the principles of the RC, we should get rid of her, no objection voiced against all the abuse by priests, pity the catholic church didn't expose her mind to the good old protestant work ethic, she could do with a lesson on honest days work for an honest days pay. No objection to the crimes committed against the state by
the bankers, I have held in regard Robinson, & the pres who snookered Haughey,but this woman no, this woman is obnoxious, people are going to V.D.Paul, for assistance for the basics in life, food & heat, & 2000 Euro , on jet fares to Belfast, what are the ECB & IMF saying about that.

#15 sorley commented, on November 29, 2010 at 7:02 p.m.:

And why not, she is the President, and what is the purpose of the government jet ?

#16 Hope commented, on November 29, 2010 at 11:55 p.m.:

sorely.. there is no useful purpose for a jet, this is a small country, we cannot afford such extravagance, I dont want to pay for Mary Mac, Mary Harney, Mary Hanafin, Lenihan,Cowen, Martin, Ahern, & their lackeys, lording it up on a jet, \at the taxpayers expense, this bunch have bankrupted our country, the only other country with a jet at its disposal is the USA, not much comparison there, the only time I'd like to see them on a jet is a one way ticket into exile.

#17 FARRELL commented, on November 30, 2010 at 12:15 p.m.:

Hope, you are spot on. In Western Australia (a state as big as Europe) they use their Government Jet (A Hawker 125) to get around. Most journeys are between 500K and 2000k, anything under that and the pollies drive there because by the time the pre-flight etc. is completed the journey time would have been completed. For Inter-State trips normal public services are used.(Qantas,Virgin,Skwest) etc. I am in the aircraft maintenance industry and am familiar with the movements of aircraft in WA. The carry-on of these little toads would not be tolerated anywhere else however, I have my reservations as to weather the Irish voters have the guts to get rid of the whole useless lot.The next chance at the polls will set the way for our lifetimes. Personally I think it will be more of the same

#18 john o'mahony commented, on November 30, 2010 at 1:01 p.m.:

What hypocrisy? What sanctimony?
Dont we have laws relating to abuse of office?

#19 mark o flynn commented, on December 1, 2010 at 12:33 p.m.:

All this waste of money does is light a candle in her front window every night. Met her once not very plesaant either.

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