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".

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.

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.

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.

Minister Richmond joined us on The Agenda this morning to talk to us some more about this.

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