{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/69a956a2f413fba64f99aacb?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Anger at €800 Cost for Seat on Government’s Charter Flight Home from Middle East - 02/03/2026","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/1772702574861-202eade7-ca62-4051-817f-00c31eb2e4e0.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>A Government charge of €800 for a seat on a charter flight from the Middle East has been described as “a shakedown, not an evacuation”.</p><p><br></p><p>The Government said it is bearing a “portion of the cost” for the Oman evacuation charter flight, but failed to answer questions about the scale of the contribution.</p><p><br></p><p>The press release from Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee announcing the evacuation flight on Friday from Muscat, the capital of Oman, said it would benefit “vulnerable citizens”.</p><p><br></p><p>But after details of the €800 cost for adult passengers emerged, Senator Patricia Stephenson said: “This is a shakedown, not an evacuation.”</p><p><br></p><p>The Foreign Affairs spokeswoman for the Social Democrats added: “Desperate people, stuck in a war zone, should not be asked for €800 by their own government so they can get home to safety.</p><p><br></p><p>Senator Stephenson joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"lmfm "}