A tender for "executive" cars for new ministers has been issued. David Labanyireports
While the composition of the new government is expected to become clearer tomorrow incoming ministers can rest assured that they will soon be picking up the keys to a fleet of new luxury class ministerial saloons worth over €1million.
This is because the Office of Public Works (OPW) is inviting bids from car companies and dealers to provide 18 new luxury vehicles for the new Cabinet arrivals. According to the OPW, the vehicles must have an automatic diesel engine of at least 2.4 litres and be four-door, executive class saloons, "suitable for the carriage of government ministers and senior office holders" and equipped with "seating of quality upholstery."
As all politicians are aware, perception is important and the OPW specifies that the vehicles must be "aesthetically pleasing and prestigious and shall be commensurate with the function and purpose for which such a vehicle is required."
The tender also stipulates that for aesthetic or other reasons, MPVs are not acceptable.
The winning supplier can provide vehicles from a number of different marques as not all of the 18 new saloons have to come from one manufacturer. The new ministerial cars are also required to have integrated navigation and communications systems.
A spokesman for the OPW said the new fleet should be available from this autumn. Outside the Cabinet and Attorney General, executive-class state cars are also available to certain members of the judiciary and the diplomatic corps.
The type of cars that meet the criteria set down are the Mercedes E280 Cdi Automatic which has a 2.9-litre engine and retails at €67,720. Seven ministers from the outgoing government use Mercedes E-Classes.
These cars have an official fuel consumption of 7.7L/100km and produce just under 199gms of emissions per kilometre.
In 2006 the Taoiseach changed his car to the even more luxurious S-Class Mercedes: a diesel automatic in this range would cost over €106,500. This Mercedes has a 2.9-litre engine producing 235 g/km and requires 8.5 litres of fuel to travel 100kms. The new ministers could also find themselves in the passenger seat of a BMW 525d SE saloon which has a 2.9-litre engine and costs €64,000.
Another ministerial favourite is the Volvo S80 which is used by Cork South Central TD and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Micheál Martin. The diesel version, the S80 D5 S which has a 2.4-litre engine and costs €54,070. The S80 produces 193g/km and requires 7.3 L/100kms.
At the end of March Bertie Ahern told the Fianna Fáil Ardfheis that State bodies would have to cut carbon levels emissions from their transport fleets, including ministerial cars.
As a result the OPW spokesman will also be purchasing a number of hybrid or bio-fuel executive class cars for the ministerial fleet although the exact number depends on how many ministers express a preference for them.
One option in this class is the part petrol/part electric hybrid Lexus GS which is already used in the ministerial fleet.
So who will be in these cars? What happens if the Greens are at the Cabinet table: will they take one or wait for new hybrids?
A highly cautious spokesperson for the Green Party said last night that it was too early to talk about possible ministries for the party.
However, he pointed to the example of the two previous occasions when Green Party members were provided with a state car they had swapped for more fuel efficient alternatives. This was when John Gormley was mayor of Dublin and Nial Ó Brolcháin was mayor of Galway.
Ministers cover huge miles, especially if their constituency is a long way from Dublin. Micheál Martin covered 182,400km in just over a year meaning he travelled about 16,500km a month.
From a legal point of view the ministerial fleet are considered Garda cars, driven by Garda drivers and are maintained as part of the Garda fleet.
Tenders for the contract must be submitted by June 27th.