Vol. 572 No. 3
431 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if patriot missiles and mark 77 air-drop incendiary bombs were carried in cargo planes that refuelled in Shannon Airport in the context of the Iraq war; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23396/03]
Most requests for exemptions under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973, are received from civilian air carriers carrying military troops with their personal weapons and ammunition.
Approximately one-third of requests for exemption are received from cargo carriers. The cargo contained on these flights includes items such as helicopter parts, rockets, grenades and cartridges. The items are described using their United Nations, UN, classification codes, UN identification numbers, and ICAO technical packing codes rather than by brand names or mark types. Accordingly, it is not possible to say whether any of the munitions mentioned by the Deputy have been carried in cargo planes that have refuelled in Shannon airport.
All applications for exemptions received, including details of the cargo, are submitted to the Irish Aviation Authority, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and the Department of Foreign Affairs for their observations, and to the Department of Defence for information. Should any of these bodies express an objection to the operation of these flights, I would refuse to grant an exemption under the 1973 order.
