The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. For the period to the 30 September 2013, my Department granted permission for the landing of 366 foreign military aircraft at Shannon Airport. Permission was granted in all cases subject to the normal conditions that apply to landings at Irish airports by foreign military aircraft; namely that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or operations. The table provides details of the countries involved and the number of times permission was sought to land in Shannon Airport. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not keep a record of the length of time involved on each occasion when a military aircraft lands at Shannon Airport. I am aware of one landing at Shannon Airport during the period in question in which a US military aircraft, contrary to notification, was found to be armed with a fixed weapon and did not, therefore, comply with the normal conditions that apply to foreign military aircraft overflying or landing in Ireland. This case was raised at the highest possible level with the US Embassy. The Embassy official explained that this isolated incident had taken place as a result of an administrative error, and assurances were given that steps had been taken to prevent any recurrence.
|
Name of State
|
No. of Landings
|
|
Canada
|
8
|
|
Croatia
|
3
|
|
Egypt
|
3
|
|
France
|
1
|
|
Germany
|
5
|
|
Italy
|
4
|
|
Panama
|
1
|
|
Russia
|
2
|
|
Sweden
|
3
|
|
USA
|
336
|
|
Total
|
366
|
