Military Aircraft Landings

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

Questions (177)

Mick Wallace

Question:

177. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details on the purpose of the landing of the two foreign military aircraft (details supplied) that landed at Shannon Airport on 11 March 2015; if he will provide details of permits granted by his Department in respect of these two particular aeroplanes; if his Department was contacted by An Garda Síochána regarding a request from a member of the public to inspect the aeroplanes; if so, the action that was taken by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15177/15]

Oral answers (20 contributions)

Deputy Mick Wallace

My question relates to two planes which landed on 11 March. It was unplanned by the sound of it. I do not know how the Government can believe they were not carrying weapons or munitions. The idea that they were not engaged in military operations or exercises, which are in breach of Irish neutrality, is beyond belief. How in God's name can the Minister still hold that we have a policy of neutrality when we allow such things to happen?

Deputy Charles Flanagan

I can confirm that permission was granted by my Department for the landing of these two aircraft at Shannon Airport subject to the strict conditions which apply to all foreign military aircraft. 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. In seeking requests to my Department in respect of these aircraft, the United States Embassy indicated that the purpose of the landings was for crew rest. My Department has not received any information from An Garda Síochána in relation to these aircraft. Any questions relating to Garda matters should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Deputy Mick Wallace

The two airplanes in question were Hercules planes. One was numbered BD 5379 and is a US Navy Lockheed C-130T warplane operated by a VR-64 Condors' Fleet logistics support squadron from McGuire AFB. They are part of a team that is entrusted to safely execute effective, responsive C-130 Hercules air logistics missions in direct support of fleet and combatant commanders worldwide. These planes are engaged in military activity. Only this week, Dr. Edward Horgan, who was trying to get a flight from Shannon to London, saw four military planes parked on the runway at Shannon. There were as many military planes in the airport as there were civilian. This is a civilian airport.

When is the Government going to stop deceiving the public that we are not facilitating US military ambitions by allowing our airport to be used for military purposes? It was bad enough that the previous Government did it but this Government is supposed to be the party of law and order. Why can it not call the truth and admit that it has a supportive role in the US military position?

Deputy Charles Flanagan

The issue of the apparent deception of the public is a recurring theme in respect of Question Time and Deputy Wallace. Could I make it clear to him that there is no question of deceiving the public? Deputy Wallace will be completely familiar with the arrangements for authorising the landing of US military aircraft at Irish airports, namely, the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order of 1952 and related arrangements. These arrangements apply to all foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft landing at Shannon. Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality involves non-participation in any military alliance. Ireland has not entered into any military alliance with the US or any other country or organisation.

The use of Shannon Airport by the US military is a long-standing practice and has been in place for over 50 years. Permitting the use of Shannon by the US military does not challenge or undermine Ireland's policy of military neutrality nor does it deceive anybody. The regulations are quite clear.

Deputy Mick Wallace

I beg to differ. In reply to Question No. 657 tabled recently by Deputy Clare Daly, the Minister said:

The US is granted blanket permission for overflights by unarmed military aircraft. The US Embassy provides my Department with post hoc monthly statistical returns on the total number of overflights by such aircraft. Its return for February 2015 states that there were 48 such overflights by transport, passenger and refuelling aircraft.

How in God's name can the Minister say that there are no arms or munitions on these planes going through our airspace? What are US assurances worth given the terrorist activities of that country and the torture programme it ran, which we facilitated by allowing rendition flights through Shannon?

Deputy Clare Daly and I are due back in court in Ennis tomorrow because we tried to inspect planes, something the Government refuses to allow the Defence Forces or gardaí to do. We are trying to keep the peace, not break it. We oppose war. The Government is supporting war and the arms industry. A total of 33.5 million people have been displaced because of conflict. This is why we have the trouble in the Mediterranean.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Bernard J. Durkan)

The Deputy is out of time.

(Interruptions).

Acting Chairman (Deputy Bernard J. Durkan)

I ask the Deputy to resume his seat and let the Minister reply. Deputy Wallace is out of order.

Deputy Charles Flanagan

Deputy Wallace is confusing the matter of overflight with that of inspection of military aircraft. Indeed, he will be aware that-----

Deputy Mick Wallace

They are both issues.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Bernard J. Durkan)

The Minister to reply.

Deputy Charles Flanagan

Deputy Wallace will be aware-----

Deputy Mick Wallace

The Chair is one-sided.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Bernard J. Durkan)

The Deputy will withdraw that remark.

Deputy Mick Wallace

It is blatant.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Bernard J. Durkan)

The Deputy must withdraw that remark or I will adjourn the House.

Deputy Mick Wallace

The Acting Chairman can do so if he wishes.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Bernard J. Durkan)

I am sorry; it is not the Deputy's prerogative to disrupt this House. We have heard those allegations before.

Deputy Mick Wallace

I am not disrupting the House, the Acting Chairman is doing so.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Bernard J. Durkan)

I propose to report the matter to the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I call the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, to continue with his reply and ask that he do so in the shortest possible time.

Deputy Charles Flanagan

In regard to the inspection of military aircraft, in accordance with international practice, foreign military aircraft passing through Ireland with the permission of the Government are not subject to routine searches or inspections. The principal of sovereign immunity applies automatically to foreign state or military aircraft, in the same way that it applies to Irish State or military aircraft abroad. Details supplied to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by diplomatic missions abroad are accepted in good faith as being accurate. Information provided to other states by Irish diplomatic missions seeking diplomatic clearance for flights undertaken by the Air Corps are similarly accepted by those countries to be accurate.

As I have already made clear, my Department has not received any information from An Garda Síochána in relation to the two aircraft which are the subject of the Deputy's question. Questions relating to Garda matters can, of course, be directed to my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald.