Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2015
740. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the fact that the primary role of the aircraft which made an emergency landing at Shannon in County Clare on 28 February 2015 is electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defences and offensive counter information, if An Garda Síochána investigated and searched the aircraft on its arrival at Shannon; and if not, the reason. [11334/15]
View answer743. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 448 of 10 March 2015, if he will clarify his statement that, on landing, the aircraft declared an emergency due to failure of one of its engine’s, in view of the fact that there were several fire service trucks waiting for it and the emergency had to have been declared well in advance of landing. [11710/15]
View answer748. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 448 of 10 March 2015, in view of the fact that the United States of America air force itself describes the EC-130H as an airborne tactical weapon system using a heavily modified version of the C-130 Hercules airframe and that its primary function is electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses and offensive counter information, the reason he can accept assurances that it was unarmed and did not form part of military exercises or operations when it landed in Shannon on 28 February 2015, without prior permission. [11994/15]
View answer749. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken in view of the fact that incorrect information was provided by the Embassy of the United States of America in relation to the EC-130H that landed in Shannon airport on 28 February 2015. [11995/15]
View answer750. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 448 of 10 March 2015, if his attention has been drawn to other occasions on which incorrect information has been provided by the Embassy of the United States of America in relation to military aircraft from the United States of America landing at Shannon. [11996/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 740, 743 and 748 to 750, inclusive, together.
In my reply to Question No. 448 of 10 March 2015 I provided details regarding the landing of a US military aircraft at Shannon Airport on 28 February.
I confirmed that assurances had been provided that the aircraft complied with the strict conditions applying to foreign military aircraft granted permission to overfly or land at Irish airports, including the condition that the aircraft was unarmed. These assurances were provided in relation to the initial request for permission to land and were subsequently re-confirmed by the United States Embassy in relation to the landing on 28 February. Issues relating to the landing have been raised with the Embassy by officials in my Department.
My Department was informed that this aircraft had declared an emergency on landing; the procedures which are put in place at Shannon Airport in response to such notifications are a matter for the aviation authorities which are under the remit of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. My Department has not received any information from An Garda Síochána in relation to the aircraft; questions relating to Garda matters should be directed to the Minister for Justice and Equality.
