Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
98. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Shannon Airport is being used by the USA to transport weapons to Israel to potentially be used against the occupied territories of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47401/23]
View answerI have unreservedly condemned the attack by Hamas on Israel. I am also deeply concerned at the unfolding situation in Gaza. I have made it clear that, under international law, Israel has a right to defend itself from attack, but this must be done within the parameters of international humanitarian law.
In relation to the use of Shannon airport, military aircraft of other states are allowed under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, to land in Ireland only under certain circumstances. Foreign military aircraft are permitted to land if they meet strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed, and carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it is not engaged in intelligence gathering; and that it does not form part of a military operation or exercise.
Furthermore the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973 prohibits the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft, including on troop-carrying civil aviation operators, through Irish airspace or Irish airports, unless an exemption has been granted by the Minister for Transport. Statistics on such exemptions are published on the Department of Transport’s website.
