Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 5

Written Answers. - Landing Rights.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

42 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on all requests and ministerial authorisations for landings made under the provisions of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, since 1990; the number of requests received and from which countries; the number of requests approved and for which countries; the number of rejections and for which countries; the reasons for such rejections; if he will further report on all instances where the Minister waived conditions for landing under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, since 1990; the number of waivers granted; the countries to which; the years in which; the reasons for which the conditions were waived; if he will further report on all instances where the Minister waived conditions for overflight under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, since 1990; the countries to which; the years in which; and the reasons for which the conditions were waived. [26444/02]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

The numbers of foreign military aircraft granted landing permission under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, from 1990 to end November 2002 are as follows: 1990, 447; 1991, 271; 1992, 303; 1993, 375; 1994, 333; 1995, 342; 1996, 387; 1997, 434; 1998, 437; 1999, 511; 2000, 456; 2001, 489; and 2002 up to the end of November, 523.

The countries to which this permission was granted are as follows: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Croatia, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Republic of Guinea, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, and the Republic of Yugoslavia.

In view of the legitimate and understandable security concerns of the countries involved, it is not the Government's policy to provide details of requests for overflight and landing permission supplied by individual countries. In the case of routine landings, confirmation is required that the aircraft do not carry arms, ammunition or explosives and do not form part of a military exercise or operation. In submitting requests for routine landings, all countries are expected to comply with these stipulations. In this context, no routine landing applications have been refused.

In addition and on an exceptional basis, the normal stipulations for the granting of overflight and landing permission in respect of military aircraft operating pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1368, adopted on 12 September 2001, were waived. However, there is no record of any application to avail of this exemption.

Landing and overflights facilities were also offered to foreign military aircraft during the UN-mandated operation in the Persian Gulf in 1991. Our files do not, however, indicate that any requests to waive the usual stipulations were submitted at the time.