Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2014
32. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Defence his views regarding the presence of US military aircraft in Irish territory and air space; the measures taken by the Irish Defence Forces to ensure that these aircraft are not armed, carrying arms or engaging in military exercises or operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43272/14]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland rests with the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade in accordance with the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952. The Defence Forces do not have a role in ensuring foreign military aircraft are not armed, carrying arms or engaging in military exercises or operations.
I understand from my colleague, Mr. Charlie Flanagan, T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade that arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations.
Requests to permit the landing of foreign military aircraft are considered by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade on the basis of these conditions. Permission is not granted for the conduct of foreign military operations in Irish airspace.
