green party ministers travel on business-class flights for international state visits, despite the larger carbon footprint of premium airline seats.
artistic leader Eamon Ryan and his deputy Catherine Martin both have booked business class flights, despite research showing that those seats are responsible for at least three times more CO2 emissions than economy seats.
Deputy Chief Ms. Martin has made four business class flights in the past year to destinations including the United Arab Emirates, Argentina and the Americas.
The revelation comes as the Green Party prepares to impose strict new carbon targets on a range of industries, including transportation, agriculture and businesses in general.
Details of the two ministers’ luxury flights follow Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe, who is pushing for cheap “€10 flights across Europe” to be banned as part of the solution to tackle the climate crisis.
Ms Martin, the Minister for Tourism, and Mr Ryan, the Minister for Transport, are also centrally involved in the worst crisis to hit the tourism industry in decades, with Dublin Airport experiencing severe delays, canceled flights and lost luggage.
While tourists are faced with the rising cost of hotels, restaurants and car rental.
However, figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that in September 2021 Ms Martin spent €8,194 flying to and from the US on a trade mission.
Ms. Martin’s department officials and press adviser flew economy, which cost between €1,666 and €2,036 per seat.
A few months later, in February this year, the minister, her officials and her political adviser all flew business class to attend the controversial Dubai Expo in the United Arab Emirates.
All four flights cost more than €5,200 each.
The following month, as part of the government’s state trade missions on St. Patrick’s Day, Ms. Martin and two of her associates booked business class flights for €6,245 to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In May, the minister and three members of her team returned to the US and again flew business class with flights ranging from €4,431 to €6,851. On shorter flights to London and Venice, Ms Martin has flown economy class.
When asked if he also flies business class, Mr Ryan’s spokesman said he did so “once” and that “in accordance with civil service guidelines”.
A recent study by the International Council on Clean Transport found that premium seats can emit 2.6 to 4.3 times more CO2 per kilometer than an economy class passenger, depending on the aircraft class.
The same study found that premium seats (business and first class) are responsible for nearly a fifth (19 percent) of all emissions from the aviation industry.
Separately, a World Bank study found that business class flights are responsible for three times more CO2 emissions than economy seats.
The ministerial trip details come at a time when the Green Party wants to introduce legislative carbon targets that would require the transport sector to cut emissions by 42 to 50 percent.
This does not apply to the aviation industry, which has to deal with new EU-imposed rules on carbon emissions.
The government has delayed signing the legally required carbon targets due to an ongoing row over the impact they will have on the agricultural sector, which the Green Party plans to cut emissions by 22 to 30 percent.
Ms Martin’s spokesperson defended her use of business flights, saying it “is dictated by itinerary requirements and conducted in accordance with the department’s travel policy.
“Premium economy/business class may be used on long-haul flights where the additional flexibility provided is deemed necessary for the effective handling of official business or where the scheduled flight time exceeds five hours.
“The minister traveled in business class where those conditions were met and where she usually had to attend meetings and briefings immediately after arrival. The minister will fly in economy class whenever possible in the context of itineraries and the duration of the trip,” he added.
The spokesman said the department is making an annual payment to the Climate Action Fund program to offset emissions for travel on commercial flights by the minister and all officials.