Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2016
806. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Air Cargo aeroplane which landed at Shannon Airport in County Clare on 25 March 2016 was en route to Bagram in Afghanistan; and if an exemption was sought under the 1973 order in this regard. [5618/16]
View answerShannon Airport Authority has informed my Department that a National Air Cargo Boeing 747 landed at Shannon on Thursday 24 March at 18.11 for a technical fuel stop. Due to a technical problem with the aircraft it over-nighted at Shannon prior to departing on Friday the 25 March 2015 at 19.05. The flight originated in Chicago and was destined for Bagram in Afghanistan.
The airline did not apply to my Department for a munitions exemption under the 1973 Order for this flight and my understanding is that no munitions of war were carried on the aircraft.
International airlines, such as National Air Cargo, are well aware of that a permit is required under the 1973 Order for the carriage of munitions of war through Irish airspace. National Air Cargo has applied for such exemptions in the past, the last being in 2014.
