It has been reported that junior ministers on a recent government trip chose to fly in business class while their senior minister opted for economy. Many are questioning the ethics of this decision, which has sparked a controversy among politicians and the public alike. The basis of this article will delve into the reasons behind the junior ministers’ decision to fly business class and the implications it has regarding the perceived hierarchy within government officials.
According to recent reports by the Irish Mirror, a number of junior ministers flew business class on their St Patrick’s Day trips, while their senior ministers flew economy class. Of the eight ministers that flew business class, four were Ministers of State. The Irish Mirror contacted all government departments to inquire about the travel arrangements of their ministers and delegations. All departments responded except for Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s Office and Tánaiste Micheál Martin’s Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Mirror saw Mr. Varadkar travelling in business class on an Aer Lingus flight to Washington, while his delegation flew economy. It was understood that the Tánaiste also flew business class while his delegation was in economy on his trip to New York.
Among the seven other Ministers or Ministers of State who flew business class, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue and his delegation flew to New Zealand, while Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney and his delegation went to Australia. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon also flew business class to South Korea with his delegation. Junior Sports Minister Thomas Byrne flew in business class to Texas, USA, along with his special advisor and private secretary. Ministers of State Niall Collins and Josepha Madigan also flew in business class while the senior Ministers in their departments flew economy.
On the other hand, several other ministers who traveled long distances did so in economy class. This included Minister of State Jack Chambers, who went to Japan, and Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who represented Ireland in Kenya and Tanzania. Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman, who went to India, also travelled in economy class. Minister of State Ossian Smyth, on the other hand, travelled via ferry, train and Eurostar to Brussels and onwards by train to The Hague. He returned home on the L.E. William Butler Yeats Naval Vessel, which was travelling back to Ireland from The Hague at the same time.
The Foreign Travel Policy Guidelines issued by the Department of Finance state that business class travel “should be confined to limited situations where the Head of the Department is satisfied that the additional cost can be justified in relation to the length of the flight and the official business to be conducted.” As such, annual reviews into business class or premium economy must be conducted by Departments.
The Irish Mirror did not receive responses about how Ministers Sean Fleming or Patrick O’Donovan travelled as their Departments did not respond to queries. However, it is clear that the travel arrangements of ministers and their delegations have been put under close scrutiny. While the guidelines make some allowances for business class travel, it appears that many officials opted to fly in economy class.
