Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2015
145. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will clarify his earlier replies to parliamentary questions (details supplied) regarding the landing of an EC-130H aircraft at Shannon Airport in February 2015. [16109/15]
View answer146. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which sanction was given to the EC-130H that landed at Shannon Airport on February 2015 to overfly Irish airspace or land in view of the fact that it is an airborne weapons system and that he indicated that landing-overflight permission is not granted for military aircraft that are armed. [16110/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, permission for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports is subject to compliance with strict conditions, including that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering and do not form part of military exercises or operations.
In my replies to previous Questions from the Deputy, I set out details of the information provided to my Department by the United States Embassy regarding the landing of this aircraft at Shannon Airport on 28 February. I noted in particular that the Embassy had provided assurances concerning compliance with the conditions which I have outlined, including that the aircraft was unarmed.
In relation to the intention to land, as I set out in previous replies, a request for permission for a C130 aircraft to land had been received and approved by my Department. I explained that the aircraft that landed was in fact an EC130H, which is a variant of the C130. The Embassy confirmed to my officials that the aircraft planned to land at Shannon on 28 February prior to developing technical difficulties. The letter to which the Deputy refers also confirms that the aircraft, which it describes as a C130, had filed to land at Shannon.
Furthermore, my previous replies and the letter to which the Deputy refers, both highlight the fact that an emergency landing had been declared by the aircraft and that the emergency had arisen due to engine trouble.
My previous replies have stated that my Department was informed by the US Embassy that the declaration had been made on landing. I also stated that the procedures for notification of emergencies are a matter for the aviation authorities.
As stated in my replies, I instructed that my officials pursue the matter with the US Embassy. The Embassy has confirmed to my officials the details set out in my replies. Department officials have reminded the Embassy of the importance of providing the Department with correct and timely information in relation to future requests.
