Damien English
Question:94 Mr. English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contact he has had with foreign governments seeking overflight or landing facilities for military personnel. [21540/02]
Written Answers. - Military Aircraft.
Dan Boyle
Question:96 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of occasions in each of the last 12 months that permissions were granted to foreign military aircraft to overfly Ireland and to land in the State; the countries which were granted permission to overfly and land each month; the number of permissions for each country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21505/02]
Emmet Stagg
Question:111 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the criteria used in determining whether or not to grant leave for overflights and landing rights by foreign military aircraft; if conditions are attached to such permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21453/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 96 and 111 together.
The figures for permissions granted to military aircraft to overfly Ireland in the past 12 months are as follows: November 2001:197; December 2001: 119; January 2002: 123; February 2002: 160; March 2002: 219; April 2002: 199; May 2002: 213; June 2002: 256; July 2002: 261; August 2002: 195; September 2002: 217; and October 2002: 246
Permission was granted to the following countries: Algeria; Australia; Bangladesh; Belgium; Republic of Botswana; Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Egypt; France; Federal Republic of Germany; India; Indonesia; Iran; Israel; Italy; Malaysia; Mexico; Morocco; New Zealand; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Spain; Sweden; Thailand; Turkey; Ukraine; Republic of Yemen; United Kingdom and the United States of America.
The figures for permissions granted to military aircraft to land in Ireland in the past 12 months are as follows: November 2001: 70; December 2001: 48; January 2002: 47; February 2002: 46; March 2002: 54; April 2002: 60; May 2002: 58; June 2002: 45; July 2002: 45; August 2002: 60; September 2002: 38; October 2002: 39;
Permission was granted to the following countries: Algeria; Austria; Bahrain; Belgium; Bulgaria; Canada; Denmark; Czech Republic; Egypt; Ethiopia; Finland; France; Georgia; Germany; Hungary; Italy; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Latvia; Luxembourg; Netherlands; New Zealand; Nigeria; Palestine; Portugal; Russia; Slovak Republic; Saudi Arabia; Republic of Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States of America and Yugoslavia.
Permission for overflight and landing rights by foreign military aircraft is granted provided that the relevant aircraft is unarmed and carries no arms, ammunition or explosives and does not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flight in question does not form any part of military exercises or operations.