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THE GOVERNMENT HAS struck a deal with Ryanair that will allow politicians, diplomats and other officials to travel from Belgium to Dublin with the low-fare airline during the Irish presidency of the European Union next year.
The deal, which could save as much as €1.5 million for the State, was arranged through the government’s travel management services contract with Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
The Irish airline has said it has guaranteed a low-fare deal on its daily return flights between Dublin Airport and Charleroi Airport, 60 kilometres from Brussels where many EU officials are based.
According to Ryanair the deal includes a fixed one-way fare of €49.99, a ’Presidency’ helpline which will be manned 15 hours a day, up to 30 days ‘credit’ terms, free flight changes, and dedicated assistance desks at both Dublin and Brussels South Charleroi airport.
The airline said that if 5,000 trips are taken by Irish and EU officials over the six month’s of the country’s EU presidency, which begins next week, then the government will save over €1.5 million.
This figure is based on estimates from the Office of Public Works from April of this year which show that the Irish government spent an average fee of €350 per flight.
In a statement, the government said it was “determined to run a cost-effective EU presidency across all areas”.
“As part of ongoing efforts to minimise costs of official travel, Government Departments have ensured that all staff have been advised of the arrangement,” the statement added.
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Could the government not get a good deal of Aer Lingus, seeing as they are part owned and financed by the government??
see what you did wrong there. – you used “good deal” and aerlingus in the same sentence..
Aerlingus are not in any way financed by the Irish government. Those days ended years ago.
I think Ryanair is pretty competitive/cheaper on these routes. Either way, whatever airline they strike a deal with, we should be applauding them for doing so. A lot of people moan that they don’t make any effort to make cuts from the top and they fly around the place on expensive flights etc. But this is one case, thank god, where they are cutting from the top.
Brendan
Aer Lingus have been ripping us off for years on this very route. They got one hundred per cent of the business at full price. Now do you sound silly?
The government of Ireland has 25% ownership of Aer Lingus.
http://www.thejournal.ie/ryanair-aer-lingus-cash-shares-buy-takeover-493166-Jun2012/
No! I don’t… Sorry! But if you had a good stake in a company would you use another competitor company ?
I’d love to know how much the taxi will cost from Charleroi to Brussels compared to the taxi from Brussels main. There go the “savings” they just made! It’ll prob cost more in the long run!
So what? The costs are two high
You gotta admire Michael O’Leary.
He’s some operator.
They better remember to print our their bording passes, otherwise it will be a loss of 1.5 million!
Valid point. Anyhow, Ryanair will make the money from the luggage, either checked-in or “oversized” hand-luggage that will have to be checked-in (the article mentioned something about special “assistance desks” that will be used for inspections).
Fair play to Ryanair for fishing some 5,000 big fish… :)
Save €1.5 million? Would it not save a lot more traveling on the airline they own 25% of???
not unless they want to be late for their meetings all the time
That’s save 1.5 million if they take 5000 flights. Don’t think it’s a saving atal. The more you fly the more you save?
Why can’t they use Skype video call etc and save the cost of 5000 flights?!
Not to mention the environmental aspect
Government finds saving of 1.5 million and you manage to put a downer on it, great why not give them a pay rise while there at it.
Kevin
Skype is ok to call your mate in Sydney but tit doesn’t substitute for a serious face to face business meeting. I should know I’ve been at it for years!
Your right Kevin. The government should be taking after companies which don’t send their staff overseas at all to meet perspective clients or for negotiations. They all do it over Skype. Oh wait..
Kevin, companies regularly send people over seas for face to face meetings. What are you on about!
Sure like, they wouldn’t have to stay in a hotel then Kevin! Gotta keep some perks!!
A Ryan Air flight for the media and naive electorate, then 5 star hotels and 10,000 a week expenses. Wow, what a sacrifice…they really care about you, they really want to show you they have changed…you clever Irish people!
Point well made Gemma, maybe I’m naive but I hope that this is a sign of the times and that hotel costs will be similarly cut. They are making a big deal about having a low budget presidency. It be nice our government became better know for frugality than austerity.
Only prob is pushing the fat cats out the emergency exit leg room priority seats in an emergency :p
Lol find that has to believe . Are there changing there ways
* they are or they’re
*their
Most European leaders are short-arsed so they should have enough legroom on Ryanair.
Plus how much for taxis from Charleroi to Brussels?
quite cheap it would seem
The govt did not strike a deal with Ryan air, nor was it arranged by them. Michael o Leary publically offered them this deal ages ago. At the time it was poo pooed. But I suspect the thoughts of MOL getting free publicity during the EU presidency saying how inefficient their travel arrangements were forced them into this deal.
But make no mistake : this deal was NOT brokered by that incompetent shower of idiots
How do you know that Michael & Co didn’t give an even better offer? Who cares if its an offer that was in the public domain and the government agreed to it? They wont be traveling on an expensive airline and they are getting it at even cheaper rates than Ryanair would have been offering anyway. That’s good news.
Ryanair are one of the best airlines in the world. They deliver exactly what they advertise, low cost, depart and arrive on time, using the most uptodate fleet of any airline and they make a profit. (For Irish people, that means none of your taxes are used to support them)
Most negative comments about them are just the usual Irish begrudgery
Short haul flying is just a glorified bus. Get on, shut up, sit down, we need to take off and then, we have landed, get up, get off, we have a plane to turn around….perfect
Well done Gov. for finally copping on.
@Brendan
“Ryanair are one of the best airlines in the world”
Can you define ‘best’ please
Arrive on time, lose less baggage, carry 50+ passengers a year. Obey the rules and you have no more probls
Well said… I know Ryanair can be painful sometimes but for the most part they are providing us with an ability to travel far and wide cheaply and easily.
would love to see it if they tried to bring duty free on board that doesnt fit in their carry on *cackles*
There has been no duty free on EU flights since 1993
1998
ah you know what i mean, still call the shops in airport duty free
Lets not forget that Joe Public will be financially compensating for this deal! Seems insane that a State with a significant share in Aer Lingus couldn’t make a better deal for themselves. Michael must be laughing all the way to the bank at these Gombeens ;)
Art lingus’s costs are too high, blame the unions. The deal would have gone to tender had aer lingual being competitive they would have won. Also Ryan air own 29.5%of aer lingus
So does this mEan the will finally get rid of their private jet.
The government Jet? Its not used as much under this government and it is now generally used for travel which is for areas no airlines fly to or where the times don’t suit.
It is also used for air ambulance work as well.
The last shower used it all the time.
Air ambulance!!!!
Only when a politician isn’t using it.
Cracking emergency service that.
The people can avail of the air ambulance only if it not been used for the opening of a shop!!!
Ciaran; Well, to be fair, if a politician is at a meeting then the jet is otherwise engaged. Its sole purpose is not to be used for emergencies – its to be used to bring politicians to various over-sees events where an airline is unavailable. But at times, the jet has been used when idle, to assist in emergency cases.
The Aer Corps and government actually give priority to mercy flights and air ambulance over ministerial requirements.
(God it annoys me to give the government any credit) but the truth is the truth.
If you contact the Aer Corps and request the information on the Gulfstream jet they would be only too happy to assist.
Add on the ?100 taxi fare into Brussels and it’s not really that cheap …. more half assed propaganda ….
Wow…that’s just amazing. A bunch of gowls supporting one of the nastiest gowls on the planet. Well done the Gov. Yee couldn’t support Aer Lingus nah? Couldn’t support an Irish semi state body that…wait for it…actually cares about the diaspora and treats us like we’re home the minute we get on the plane…nah that’d be the decent thing to do.
That’s a silly comment… Ryanair are a massive example of a strong Irish business…if you don’t like their business model don’t fly with them, but without them you’d still be paying hundreds to get to London every time you went.
No Fiona, Ryanair are an example of a nasty cut throat Irish business. I would rather pay more than support the likes of O’Leary. I rarely fly to England since I live in Boston. On transatlantic flights I find Aerlingus to be extremely friendly and considerate. It feels like you are home the minute you set foot on the plane. My Mam died recently and the air hostesses couldn’t do enough for me. I doubt the likes of Ryanair would have done the same. Aer Lingus are a breath of fresh air compared to the likes of American, Southwest or JetBlue. Long may they continue and shame on the Irish Government for choosing the likes of O’Leary
That’s like landing them in Shannon for meetings in cork crazy last they need is aload of kids kicking their seats and crying and to top it off been sold all sorts of Sh. T onboard aerlingus could if done the same deal.
Revenge is sweet!
not really.. charleroie is 54 kilometres from Brussels, and a pre booked car can get 3 of you there for €60
At the end of the day, this is a saving, people moan enough on here when the government waste money and cut grants, yet when they try and save some money, people still cant help finding something to moan about. your comparison of Shannon to cork just goes to prove that.
Could have….. didn’t
That’s good news why put a downer on it ? Michael D Higgins uses Ryanair a lot and so do lots if others you’d be surprised who flies with them .
Aha. So THIS is how we get the numbers for the gathering.
Not visitors at all.
Sounds like PR stunt. It looks good if the government and their pals are travelling on the same Airline as the cash strapped public.
And of course there is no need for all those meetings anyway- have they not heard about Skype?
Sell the Government jet!
Smart idea there Stephen…. Why not tell all those sick people to use Ryanair instead; it’s cheaper after all….
@Stephen, Go onto the Air Corps FB page. Then see if your rather simple comment still flys! Some good stuff on there.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Irish-Air-Corps/148942718466693?ref=sgm
I also don’t understand why politicians don’t get a free pass, to use public transport and the serial number on it If they need to fly anywhere on Government business? Do away with Travel expenses!
I will believe it only when I see it.
What’s the bets some “cute hure” from the Dail gets on the government private jet anyway.
kEUt hEUr sEUrly….
Will those EU fatted rears fit in the Ryanair seats?
What’s wrong with the ferry? You could pack more in for less.
That’s seriously in professional… Suppose they’ll send a special committee of Wallace and Ming next
When one of them misses a flight will they be treated like everyone else and forfeit their fare? or is there a special arrangement in place for politicians and bureaucrats?
Can someone explain why we are paying for all these flights. Surely each country would pick up there own expenses. We seem to when sending politicians abroad.
Would that be Brussells to Dublin…
..via knock Knock, whEU’s there…just us liggers dining on your health and education services..
on yer Troika.
And a happy new tax-free banqueting junket 2 U.
Cui Bono?
Save €1.5ml…less €???bn.
It’s obviously all part of a cunning plan to to force a better bank deal…
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