Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 December 2015
175. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of airport security services conducting spot-checks on the contents of planes landing at Irish airports for refuelling purposes to ensure that they are not carrying goods or munitions that make the landing contrary to Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45481/15]
View answerResponsibility for the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, as amended, is divided between my Department and the Irish Aviation Authority. My Department is responsible for issuing exemptions from Article 6 of the Order regarding munitions of war and the IAA is responsible for issuing exemptions from Article 7 regarding dangerous goods.
In response to the Deputy's specific question, the Airport operator does not have a role with regard to compliance of an air carrier with the Irish Statutory provisions in this regard.
Under the Order the carriage of munitions of war on board Irish registered aircraft is prohibited without an exemption from my Department. I have no reason to believe the provisions of the Order are not being complied with by air carriers. My understanding is that there have not been inspections carried out by authorised officers of my Department in relation to the carriage of munitions of war in recent years.
In relation to the carriage of dangerous goods in accordance with Article 7, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the IAA for direct reply. If you do not receive a response within the next 10 working days please contact my Office.
