asked the Minister for Defence if the Irish Air Corps have the capacity to detect overflights or the means to intercept those violating Irish airspace; and, if not, if such inability is consistent with a policy of effective military neutrality.
Written Answers. - Unauthorised Overflights.
47.
Permission for overflights of the State by foreign military aircraft is normally granted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, provided that certain conditions are met, the most important of which are that the relevant aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and do not engage in intelligence gathering and that the flights in question do not form part of military exercises or operations.
The Air Corps have a limited capacity to detect and intercept unauthorised overflights.