The Government this evening confirmed that it has agreed to purchase a new jet replacing the Gulfstream aircraft which has has suffered a series of breakdowns in recent weeks.
At the end of January a private jet had to be hired to fly the Taoiseach to Prague after the Government's own aircraft broke down on the eve of the trip.
Last year, the Taoiseach was forced to miss a meeting with the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan when it broke down in Washington.
At today's Cabinet meeting, it was also agreed to keep the current Gulfstream IV jet until the end of the EU Presidency next year.
A steering group representing the Departments of Defence, Finance and the Taoiseach will work alongside the National Development Finance Agency to buy the new plane. The process could take a number of months.