asked the Minister for Defence the aircraft or equipment which is available to the Air Corps to intercept unauthorised flights by military or unidentified aircraft over this country; if any attempt was made by the Air Corps to identify or intercept the flight by a British Air Force plane over the Mullingar area on 30 December 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Interception of Unauthorised Flights.
20.
Limerick West): The particular incident involving the presence of a military aircraft in our airspace on the morning of 30 December 1987 was dealt with by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in reply to a question in the House on 27 January 1988. As indicated by the Minister the British authorities admitted the incursion, apologised for it and attributed it to the fact that this was the pilot's first flying mission in Northern Ireland.
It is not the practice to furnish information involving matters of a security nature in regard to equipment available to the Defence Forces.