Taoiseach defends new Government jet amid reports Israeli-made navigational tool omitted

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stopped short of denying reports that the Government has ordered a jet for Ministers and officials that could face difficulties landing because it does not have an Israeli-made navigational system.The Journal website reported at the weekend that the Dassault Falcon 6X jet was ordered without a navigational system made by the Israeli company Elbit, which may cause difficulties landing in fog and bad weather.The Government has been vocal in its criticisms of Israel’s military operation in Gaza, which has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, with Martin among those labelling it a “genocide”.The Taoiseach stopped short of issuing a denial of the report but insisted there were no issues with the jet. He was speaking as he visited Belfast on Thursday for the first Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to be hosted in the city.READ MORE“I think we need to be careful of these stories, you know, who’s feeding them into the ether? Why?” he said in response to a question about whether technology was omitted from the jet because it was made by an Israeli company.Martin added: “The jet has been very effective since we procured it.” He said the jet “took a long while to procure”.“It gives us strategic reach in terms of citizens who could be in difficulty, evacuation of people, medical evacuation, as well as flying government to various meetings, has far greater reach than we ever had before, in terms of the US, for example.“So we have it now well over six months. It’s been particularly effective in the lead into the presidency [of the Council of the European Union] and during the presidency. So, there are no issues with it at all, as far as we’re concerned.”Meanwhile, Martin has said there was “nothing confirmed” in relation to the possible visit of US president Donald Trump to Ireland for the Irish Open.The Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, Co Clare, is hosting the Irish Open in September.“Nothing confirmed there yet,” Martin said in when asked about a possible Trump visit.“There’s been lots of speculation in respect of a prospective visit.“He did say in his address to the Fourth of July celebrations at the American embassy that he would like to come to the Irish Open.“He’s been saying that consistently, but nothing confirmed and, obviously, there’s a lot on in terms of the US calendar as well, so too early yet to give any details around what might or might not happen.”The Irish Times understands that Trump is expected to arrive in Ireland on September 12th, allowing him to be in the United States for the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks on that country.The Irish Open is scheduled to take place between September 9th and 13th.Trump has visited his Co Clare resort several times since he bought it in 2014, including in 2019 during his first term as president.The Taoiseach has previously insisted Trump would be welcome to Ireland to attend the Irish Open, and the US president has repeatedly expressed a desire to do so, including when visited Washington in March to mark St Patrick’s Day.President Catherine Connolly has previously been a critic of Trump but said during last year’s election campaign she would, as part of her duty, meet the US president if he visited Ireland. – PA