Military Aircraft Landings

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

Questions (133)

Mick Wallace

Question:

133. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will guarantee that none of the military planes of the United States of America that have passed through Shannon Airport or Irish airspace in 2015, with permissions granted by his Department under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, were on their way to contribute, through refuelling sorties, to the Saudi-Arabian led bombing campaign in Yemen; if he has been provided with any information from the authorities of the United States of America in this regard; if his Department has requested any such information from these authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37693/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland.

Arrangements under which permission is granted for US military aircraft to land at Irish airports, including Shannon Airport, 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 any part of military exercises or operations.

Under longstanding arrangements, 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 these overflights.

My Department has not sought, or been provided with, information over and above that related to these conditions which apply generally. The Department is satisfied that the US is fully aware of the need to comply with these strict conditions.