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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1971

Vol. 257 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aircraft Incident.

1.

asked the Taoiseach whether he had received an explanation from the British authorities regarding the aircraft incident of 29th October, 1971; if he would make a statement on the matter in view of the fact that this incident was in violation of IATA, International Confederation of Aeronautical Organisations and Euro-Control regulations; and whether any further violations have occurred since that date.

An explanation has now been received from the British authorities regarding the aircraft incident referred to. According to the explanation, a flight was undertaken, on the morning of the 29th October, by a Canberra aircraft for the purpose of calibrating radar facilities and this flight involved flying close to the Border. Following our representations, the British authorities examined the navigational records of the flight and they have now stated that the aircraft inadvertently breached our airspace on two occasions. They have expressed regret at the infringment. The incident did not involve a breach of the regulations referred to in the Question as these apply to civil aircraft.

Two confirmed incursions by British military aircraft have taken place since I answered a similar question on the 3rd November last. One involved a helicopter which penetrated about 800 yards and the other an RAF C130 plane which penetrated less than a mile. The time spent in our air space was a matter of minutes in both cases. The British Government have expressed regret in the case of the helicopter incident which they say was inadvertent. The plane incident is at present being investigated by the British authorities.

Would the Taoiseach say what action was taken by the Defence Forces on 29th October, 1971?

Action was taken to check out the extent of the incursion which I am satisfied now was inadvertent.

Would the Taoiseach say the proximity to which this plane came to Dublin city?

I thought I gave the Deputy that information on the last occasion. Unfortunately I have not got it before me now.

Is it not reasonable to assume that the plane did come very close to Dublin city? A violation of our air space, particularly of a well-used air traffic corridor, is in fact a breach of the International Confederation of Aeronautical Organisations regulations and is in the highest degree irresponsible behaviour by the British Air Force.

As far as I recollect, it was several miles from Dublin and sufficiently far from Dublin to justify the British suggestion that the infringement of our air space was inadvertent. As I said the British authorities have apologised for it. This being a military aircraft the Euro-Control regulations to which the Deputy refers do not apply.

Is it not a fact that the aircraft referred to flew over Gormanston Camp?

Somewhere near Gormanston.

Question No. 2.

Is it not a little more serious in view of the fact that practically all the planes in the Irish army are from time to time in Gormanston? Was it not a little bit odd that it should fly over there particularly as it was supposed to be on a photographic job?

The suggestion is that they were photographing our planes to see the extent and type of our aircraft. Surely they know well what we have.

(Interruptions.)

Is the Taoiseach aware that this is a very serious breach of air traffic regulations? Is he further aware that the Indian representative at the United Nations last Thursday stated that one of the reasons why they had invaded Pakistan was because the Pakistani Air Force had violated their air space on 17 occasions? We have here the Taoiseach ignoring a deliberate, blatant violation of our air space.

We cannot discuss this. This is not relevant. Question No. 2.

I am sure the people of Gormanston camp will be glad to know that the Taoiseach thinks they are a joke.

I do no such thing.

Well the comment he made would suggest that the Air Force in Gormanston is a joke.

The Deputies who laughed were the Deputies sitting behind Deputy Tully.

The Taoiseach himself was smiling rather broadly when he was making the remark.

I was not. I said simply what is a fact — that the British authorities know well the extent of our aircraft.

They do not know Gormanston airfield. They do not know as much about it as they would after studying photographs.

I should just like to say that in the British House of Commons recently a question was raised as to the extent of infiltration by one of our aircraft and it was dismissed as being accidental and in any event possibly a mercy mission, a helicopter bringing a patient from a remote area to a hospital.

I grant you that this was probably accidental too but they should not be allowed to do it.

Question No. 2.

It could be a helicopter carrying detainees whom they were threatening to throw out.

Let us not disgrace ourselves any further.

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