asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of Resolutions adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th January, 1972, in regard to the introduction of civil supersonic aircraft, the Government intends to ban supersonic flights over inhabited areas in this country.
Written Answers. - Supersonic Aircraft Flights.
20.
There is no special legislation in force in Ireland at present concerning supersonic flights of civil or military aircraft. However, legislation has been drafted and can be introduced at short notice banning the flying of aircraft over the country at supersonic speed. The Minister for Transport and Power would propose to introduce the legislation to the Houses of the Oireachtas at a point where reports of sonic boom experiments undertaken with supersonic aircraft on test trials clearly indicate that the boom would be obnoxious and inimical to the tranquility of the Irish countryside.
Should regular services by supersonic aircraft be established prior to there being a clear indication of the effect of the boom such services might cause, the legislation will be introduced and later made operative by Ministerial Order when that course proves necessary.