asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of applications received within the last three years for passage through Irish air space by military aircraft; the number of these aircraft which were (a) nuclear capable and (b) carrying nuclear weapons; the number of applications which were turned down; the reason for turning them down; and the criteria used in coming to such decisions.
Written Answers. - Overflights by Foreign Military Aircraft.
64.
In the three-year period to 31 October, 1988 24,324 applications were received for overflights of Ireland by foreign military aircraft. The main conditions on which permission for such overflights is normally granted are that the aircraft concerned be unarmed, not carry arms, ammunition or explosives nor engage in intelligence-gathering and that the flights in question do not form part of military exercises or operations.
In the three-year period to 31 October, 1988 ten requests for authorisation for overflights by military aircraft were refused, because they did not meet the conditions set by us for overflights.