Airport Security

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Questions (1199)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

1199. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 562 of 9th July 2013 the number of notifications given to his Department when civilian aircraft on non-EU commercial, civilian flights applied for authorisation traffic rights when carrying Heads of State or Heads of Government from other nations in the past five years; the number that have been approved and rejected; if he will provide in tabular form, the nations involved and the date of each landing here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35143/13]

Written answers

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport

As mentioned in my response to Question No. 562 on 9 July 2013, non-EU civilian aircraft engaged in fuel-technical stops in Ireland or over flying Ireland are not required to notify or seek any authorisation from my Department.  Technical notifications to the Irish Aviation Authority are of course required for air traffic control purposes.

If such an aircraft is landing in Ireland for the purposes of loading or unloading people or cargo it does require authorisation from my Department. While in some instances the airline may inform my Department if a Head of State is one of the passengers on such a flight, the identity of passengers is not required for such authorisations.  On this basis the Department does not have the information sought in the Deputy's question.