Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
712. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason a British RAF Hercules C130J C5 landed at Shannon airport on 29 December 2016; if his attention had been drawn to its intention to land in advance or if he gave permission for it to land; if there were any other RAF aircraft landings at airports here in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1955/17]
View answerUnder the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to overfly or land in the State. Arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports 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 part of military exercises or operations.
In this instance, permission to land was not sought in advance from my Department. In response to a request for clarification from my officials, the British Embassy has explained that this was due to a communication breakdown.
The Embassy has confirmed in writing that the purpose of the landing was refuelling, and that the flight was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; and was not engaged in intelligence-gathering nor formed part of a military exercise or operation.
The Government views breaches of the procedures set down for the granting of permission for such landings with the utmost seriousness. I have instructed my officials to discuss the matter further with the British Embassy with a view to ensuring that correct procedures are followed in future.
In 2016, there were 21 requests for permission for RAF aircraft to land in Ireland. On each of those occasions the correct procedure was followed.
