Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2015
147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to initiate a full investigation into the nature and extent of the use by military aircraft of the United States of America of Shannon Airport since 2002 and to suspend all landing rights for such aircraft pending the outcome of the investigation. [16111/15]
View answerSuccessive Governments have made overflight and landing facilities available at Shannon Airport to the United States for over 50 years. This period covers many crises and military confrontations and we have never withdrawn or suspended those facilities at any stage during that period.
Permission for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports is granted subject to strict conditions. These conditions apply equally to all countries seeking permission from my Department for the landing of their military aircraft at Irish airports. There are currently no plans to curtail or to stop the movement of foreign military aircraft through Irish airports which takes place in accordance with these strict conditions. Arrangements regarding these requests will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis by my Department.
The regulation of civil aircraft is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
