LIMERICK Labour Party TD Conor Sheehan quizzed Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee on why Irish charter flights to evacuate Irish citizens from the Middle East were double the cost of UK flights.
According to Deputy Sheehan, Irish charter flights from Dubai cost €800 per person while it cost €400 per person for the UK government.
In response, Minister McEntee said her Department provided direct consular assistance to more than 2,450 citizens, as well as broader guidance to thousands more, including providing accurate travel advice.
“Since the start of the crisis, my Department has worked closely with EU member states, the European External Action Service, the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre, authorities in host nations, and airlines, with a view to identifying all possible options to support Irish citizens,” she explained.
She said the Government’s approach was to pursue all options to facilitate citizens on the limited number of flights still in operation and to push to ensure direct flight paths from Dublin to the Gulf would open again soon. She said there was also a focus on “identifying and delivering repatriation options” through Government charters and from EU parter flights.
According to the Minister, Irish citizens were asked to make a contribution towards the cost of the charter flights, which was initially calculated at half the seat cost, on the basis that all seats were filled by a paying passenger.
“This contribution was €800 for the flight from Oman, and €500 for the flight from the United Arab Emirates, with no charge for children under 16,” the Minister said.
“In both cases, my Department met more than 50 per cent of the cost of these flights, and, in the case of the flight from Oman, both arranged and paid for transportation, security, medical support and hotel accommodation. My officials also assisted citizens in financial difficulty to make alternative payment arrangements.”
She added that “Ireland will be eligible to recoup a significant portion of the total cost of each charter”.
“The total cost for each repatriation flight will be made available in due course, including once any contribution from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is taken into account.”