Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
1740. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 19 July 2016, if the 25,890 US soldiers that passed through Shannon Airport on civilian aircraft from January to end June 2016 were accompanied by weapons. [24498/16]
View answer1741. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 19 July 2016, if the 25,890 US soldiers that passed through Shannon Airport on civilian aircraft from January to the end of June 2016 were engaged in military exercises or operations; and if so, the military operations or exercises they were engaged in. [24499/16]
View answer1742. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 19 July 2016, the reason for each refusal for a permit to land at Shannon Airport or pass through Irish airspace while carrying munitions in 2016, by country. [24500/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1740 to 1741, inclusive, together.
My functions relate to the administration and implementation of Irish civil aviation law and policy, the primary objective of which is to ensure sustainable, safe and efficient air transport services within sovereign Irish airspace. Those functions include the administration of applications to carry munitions of war in Irish airspace under S.I. No: 224/1973 – Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973. A permit is required under the order for the carriage of munitions, not for the carriage of soldiers.
As outlined in my previous response to Parliamentary Question Number 81 of 19 July 2016 seventeen munitions permit applications were refused from January to June 2016; ten on the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and seven at my discretion.
It is normal practice for US soldiers travelling on civilian aircraft to travel with their unloaded personal weapons, including those that transit through Shannon Airport. A permit is required for the carriage of such unloaded personal weapons on civil aircraft in Irish airspace.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is consulted on all permit applications on foreign policy issues. The question regarding military exercises or operations is more relevant to that Department.
