DAIL SKETCH: Would you buy a second-hand jet from this Government? The Government, we know, is to get a new jet, but no decision has been taken on whether to purchase or lease it.
So the Taoiseach told the Dáil yesterday. Mind you, his replies to the Opposition were couched in "Bertie speak", where an interpretation of what Mr Ahern has to say is not always easy.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, challenged Mr Ahern to justify the decision "to spend in excess of €50 million" on a jet at a time of great economic uncertainty and austerity. The Taoiseach and his Ministers could forget about betraying the people, "while sitting in leather-lined seats and gilded jacuzzis at 30,0000 feet".
Mr Ahern gave him a lecture on Government spending on curbing crime and providing hospital beds. And, then, almost as an aside, he referred to the Government's decision "to look at the most feasible way of dealing with the ministerial aircraft service". He added: "The cost of a new G4 has been considered, but the best way to do this has not been decided, whether to buy outright, lease or make lease-purchase arrangements. The National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), with experts in the Department of Defence, will consider the matter."
This response prompted Fine Gael's Ms Olivia Mitchell to observe: "There is nothing like a straight answer to a straight question."
Mr Kenny was more forthright. "Waffle," he declared. Then a parliamentary hijacker in the form of a deadly serious Mr Pat Rabbitte, Labour leader, threw a hand grenade on the jet debate. He referred Mr Ahern to a confidential memorandum circulated by the chief executive of a Dublin hospital stipulating that he was required to cut his costs by 10 per cent, or €20 million. There would be capping of cancer and dialysis treatment, which would place people's lives at risk, he added.
Mr Ahern was clearly rattled. "I am not aware of the so-called confidential internal document to which the deputy refers," he said. "If it was confidential and internal, it would not have found its way to the deputy."
We haven't heard the end of the jet debate. Indeed, it surfaced during the Social Welfare Bill debate.
"Jets for the boys!" snorted Fine Gael's Mr Pat Breen.
