Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 November 2013
117. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 15 October 2013, if the US military aircraft that recently landed at Shannon Airport with a fixed weapon was a Hercules AC-130W; if he will confirm the type of fixed weapon it had; and if there were any other ammunitions, including depleted uranium munitions, on board. [45933/13]
View answerAs outlined in this House on 15 October 2013, I am aware that one US military aircraft recently landed in Shannon Airport armed with a fixed weapon and therefore did not comply with the normal conditions that apply to foreign military aircraft overflying or landing in Ireland. I am not in a position to provide further information on the aircraft in question.
A longstanding system for dealing with requests for landings by US military aircraft at Shannon is in place and is being fully implemented. The Government views breaches of the conditions attached to permission for such landings with the utmost seriousness and the case in question was raised at the highest possible level with the US Embassy. The Embassy official expressed regret at this isolated incident, explained that it was due to an administrative error and provided assurances that steps had been taken by the US authorities to prevent any recurrence.
