High-f lying Michael D could lead in economy class

TO the surprise of no one Michael D Higgins has confirmed that he is to stand for re-election to the presidency. His reasons for rowing back on his promise to serve one term only are due to popular demand, he says and also because he’s brimming with energy.

It’s great that the President, pictured, still enjoys excellent health and can keep to a schedule of public engagements that might floor someone half his age. But you have to wonder if he would be quite so eager to schlepp across the Irish Sea, or overseas, if he didn’t have the government jet so regularly at his disposal.

According to reports, the President spent almost €50,000 travelling on the State-owned jet in the first three months of this year, flying to London, Belfast, Athens and Kerry. His trip to Kerry in February cost over €11,000 in flights alone – a sum that could be saved if he travelled there by State car.

When asked at a press conference in New York about why his usage of the government jet had trebled this year, Michael D became visibly annoyed. There is very little information available about the cost of the presidency to the taxpayer, although the current incumbent insists he’s happy to end the secrecy and would sign legislation to allow greater scrutiny of the office.

Perhaps he could make that the centrepiece of his re-election campaign and allow the public decide if there’s a case or not for slimming down the presidency.