The GREEN Party’s deputy leader, Catherine Martin, has said she will fly business class again in the future “if necessary”, despite the larger carbon footprint created by such flights.
s Martin, the Minister of Media and Tourism, defended her decision to take four business class flights last year to destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, Argentina and America.
She argued that these long journeys had long ground travel routes and that she represented the Irish tourist industry. Taoiseach Micheál Martin jumped to Ms Martin’s defense during a press conference in Dublin Castle on Tuesday, claiming there was an “exception from certain members of the cabinet”.
Asked to make a commitment that she would only fly economy class in the future, Ms. Martin refused to do so, as she was unable to predict what the next tourism or trade mission would be.
“I’m not going to commit in any way under media pressure. I think it’s important that a minister who travels represents governments, if it’s a full itinerary, if it’s in line with policy, you have to take everything into account,” said the Dublin-Rathdown TD.
“It depends on the route, it depends on the trade mission. If it is necessary, yes. If it’s not necessary, then absolutely not. It depends, every mission will be a different decision and that’s all I can tell you. I cannot predict what the next tourism or trade mission will be.”
Ms Martin said she is trying to limit her air travel as much as possible, but as a minister representing the tourism sector, she stressed the importance of promoting the industry abroad.
“About 75 percent of our tourism revenue was actually [pre-pandemic] of international tourists and this has been an industry that has been absolutely devastated for the past two years.
“I took part in a tourism trade mission to keep in mind that Ireland was reopening as a tourist destination because it is so incredibly important to us as an indigenous industry.
“So the missions I participated in were designed to rebuild that industry, had very busy schedules and from the beginning on the ground when arriving in a region to the very end, which is why I do this tourist trade was doing missions, but it was a full itinerary and it was in line with long-haul policy.
“Of course I fly economy for short flights. But as I said in a personal capacity, I am doing everything I can to limit my air travel.”
Martin defended his cabinet colleague, saying there is a case for ministers flying business class, which is responsible for three times more CO2 emissions than economy seats, according to a World Bank study.
“Most of these missions are work-based. You have to hit the ground from here, in other words you work until you get on the plane and you’re going to hit the ground when you get off a plane,” he said.
Asked if he also flies business class, spokesman for Green Party leader Eamon Ryan told the Irish Independent earlier this week that he did so “once” and “in line with civil service guidelines”.