High flyer with a sky high price

MICHAEL D Higgins likes to portray himself as a man of the people – a politician and president in touch with the ordinary working and a woman.

But the once left-leaning Labour vote catcher has little in common with the average Sean or Sinead Citizen.

He blew €36,000 using the government Lear jet so far this year and flew to Belfast, Kerry, London and Paris in the lap of luxury.

What an utter waste of taxpayers’ money. It’s a scandal of the sort the very same Michael D would have been railing against years ago.

He could have taken the train to Belfast for less than €40 return, or Aer Lingus to Kerry and back for €96.

Luton Airport outside London with Ryanair would only have set the taxpayer back €33.

Even a return trip with the same airline to Paris could be had for €98.

The €36,000 he burned on the four flights could have hired an experienced garda, nurse or a teacher for a full year.

Michael D has done a good job in the Aras, but he seems to have lost the run of himself amidst the grandeur of the poshest house in the land.

This Aras Force One scandal, which he has tried to dodge, might come back to bite him.

The revelations might not change the course of tomorrow’s election, but it will make people think twice when they cast their vote.