Leo Varadkar would have to become a vegetarian for 3.6 years to offset the carbon emission costs of his business class flight to Washington for St Patrick’s Day this week.
Or, a further analysis of emissions estimates that he would have to go car-free for 12,700kms to make up for the extra emissions if he doesn’t want to give up meat.
The data has been compiled by Cork solar energy company, Wizer Energy.
READ MORE: Ireland weather: St Patrick’s Day tornado and more extreme events Met Eireann charted over the years
The examination of all the Government’s St Patrick’s Day trip flights shows that if business class is used by all of the ministers and Attorney General, that 123.84 tonnes extra pollutants will be emitted into the atmosphere.
The long standing argument is that politicians need to have business class seats in order to do work without having anyone being able to see sensitive government material.
However, Irish politicians have increasingly been using business class less and less in recent years.
But the Irish Mirror has confirmed the Taoiseach flew business class to the US this week and it is understood other ministers flew this way too.
A spokeswoman for Wizer Energy said: “For a government that has been pushing green policies, and as Ireland tries to move to a more climate friendly environment, the carbon cost of St. Patrick's Day must be examined.
“Flying is one of the biggest polluting activities that an individual can undertake, and these yearly St. Patrick's Day trip for ministers dramatically increases the emission that Ireland is responsible for producing.
“If all ministers take business class flights a total of 185.58 tonnes of pollutants will be emitted. With the average emissions per trip being 5.57 tonnes, 3.44 tonnes more than if they took economy seats.”
The Government’s handbook for ministers advises that economy class travel should be used where possible, unless there is a justifiable reason not to.
The Irish Mirror observed Taoiseach Leo Varadkar flying business class on his trip to Washington this week.
It is not known whether the other 37 senior or junior ministers and the Attorney General travelled economy, business or first class on their St Patrick’s Day junkets to destinations all over the world.
The data was compiled by Wizer Energy using calculator.carbonffotprint.com, based on direct flights to the countries/cities main airport with no layovers, from Dublin to the first country/city listed and return to Dublin from the last country/city listed.
A spokeswoman for Wizer Energy added: “Carbon emissions from planes at high altitude have an increased effect on global warming,
“The UK Government’s recommended Radiative Forcing factor of 1.891 has been considered in these calculations.
“All data is given in CO2e tonnes, CO2e is a term for describing different greenhouse gases in a common unit.”
READ NEXT :
Met Eireann forecast major temperature swing before weather system takes over
Shamed socialite Marcus Sweeney still living the high life as we track him
Presenter Dermot Whelan speaks of 'pain' of losing mother to dementia
Imelda May's boyfriend 'lucky to be alive' after horror car crash on icy roads
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
