Vol. 573 No. 3
527 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to military hardware being transported through Shannon Airport; if so, the types of hardware involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25047/03]
As I stated in a reply on this subject on 14 October 2003, most requests for exemptions under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, are received from civilian air carriers carrying military troops with their personal weapons and ammunition.
Approximately one third of requests for exemption are received from cargo carriers. The cargo contained on these flights includes items such as helicopter parts, rockets, grenades and cartridges. The items are described using their United Nations classification codes, UN identification numbers, and ICAO technical packing codes rather than by brand names or mark types.
All applications for exemptions received, including details of the cargo, are submitted to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Foreign Affairs for their observations, and to the Department of Defence for information. The application is also submitted to the Irish Aviation Authority for its observations, as the day-to-day oversight of aviation safety falls within its remit. Should any of these bodies express an objection to the operation of these flights, I would refuse to grant an exemption under the 1973 order.
