Taoiseach defends government jet over reports a navigational tool was omitted

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, Press Association

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stopped short of denying reports the Government had ordered a new jet for ministers and officials without an Israeli-made navigational system which could pose difficulties when landing.

The Journal website revealed at the weekend the Dassault Falcon 6X jet was ordered without a navigational system made by the Israeli company Elbit, which may cause difficulties landing in fog and bad weather.

The Government has been vocal in its criticisms of Israel’s military operation in Gaza, which has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, with Mr Martin among those labelling it a “genocide”.

Mr Martin stopped short of issuing a denial but insisted there were no issues with the jet.

The jet has been very effective since we procured it

He was speaking as he visited Belfast on Thursday for the first Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to be hosted in the city.

“I think we need to be careful of these stories, you know, who’s feeding them into the ether? Why?”, he said in response to a question about whether technology was omitted from the jet because it was made by an Israeli company.

Mr Martin said: “The jet has been very effective since we procured it, took a long while to procure.

“It gives us strategic reach in terms of citizens who could be in difficulty, evacuation of people, medical evacuation, as well as flying government to various meetings, has far greater reach than we ever had before, in terms of the US, for example.

“So we have it now well over six months. It’s been particularly effective in the lead into the presidency (of the Council of the European Union) and during the presidency. So, there are no issues with it at all, as far as we’re concerned.”

In a statement to the Press Association on Wednesday, the Department of Defence said: “For operational reasons, we have no further comment to make on the aircraft’s specifications.”