asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport whether the ICAO have any regulations governing the transport by airlines of dangerous substances; if so, if he will give details of same; the guidelines applying to airlines who engage in such air freight; and whether he has issued instructions to Aer Rianta regarding the inspection and redirection of aircraft such as the US freighter which landed at Shannon International Airport on Christmas Day 1988.
Written Answers. - Transportation of Dangerous Substances.
82.
The requirements for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air are specified in Technical Instructions (Doc 9284 — AN/905) published by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
A direction issued under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973 (S.I. No. 224 of 1973) permits generally the transport of certain dangerous goods by air in accordance with the ICAO Technical Instructions and gives those instructions the force of law in the State.
The legal requirement to comply with the ICAO Instructions in this regard was published by my Department in a Notice to Aircraft Owners and Engineers, issued on 12 May 1983. In addition, my Department inserted a public notice in the national daily newspapers on 24 June 1988, which drew attention to the ICAO Standards and the Technical Instructions, and to the statutory requirement to comply with these instructions where relevant.
The circumstances relating to the particular flight referred to in the question are under investigation.