{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/69aaaa5e7036d73902ee37f7?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Minister Defends €800 Dubai Evacuation Flight Fee as 'Standard Practice' - 06/03/2026","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/67c5d757b48a8f157c1f9076/1772791510477-19276c92-ef2e-45b7-845f-7afbcd957cf4.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>A Government minister has rejected claims that the fare of €800 per person for a chartered flight out of Dubai amid the Middle East crisis was \"a shakedown\".</p><p><br></p><p>Minister of State with responsibility for international development and the diaspora Neale Richmond said he was disappointed by the claim, which Senator Patricia Stephenson made - we spoke to Senator Stephenson yesterday on the programme.</p><p><br></p><p>The United Arab Emirates city and other countries in the Middle East have witnessed bombings in the days following the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.</p><p><br></p><p>Minister Richmond said officials in the region and at the crisis consular centre have worked very hard to arrange for 300 Irish citizens to board a plane tomorrow from Muscat to Dublin to complement another Emirates commercial flight last night.</p><p><br></p><p>Minister Richmond 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 "}