Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2017
71. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to an agreement between the RAF and the State concerning Irish airspace defence, if the Defence Forces including the Air Corps, are party to this agreement; if specific training has taken place regarding this agreement; if so, the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25611/17]
View answer82. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps are party to an agreement between the RAF and the State concerning airspace defence; if specific training has taken place regarding this agreement; if so, the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23330/17]
View answer101. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the person that has the ultimate responsibility for allowing RAF jets to fly over Irish airspace on intercept missions; the details of the bilateral agreement reached by his Department and the Irish Aviation Authority and its British counterparts (details supplied) that permits such missions; if RAF planes are allowed to conduct armed operations over Ireland in the event of a terrorist attack, real or suspected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23194/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 82 and 101 together.
The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, made under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946, gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. Successive Ministers for Foreign Affairs have put in place strict conditions which must be satisfied before permission to overfly the territory of the State may be granted.
Thorough and robust procedures are in place in my Department with a view to ensuring that the conditions for securing permission for foreign military aircraft to overfly the State are clearly understood and properly applied. These procedures are kept under ongoing review.
I cannot comment on any reports concerning national security matters or responses that might be taken in the event of an attack on Ireland or a serious and immediate security threat to Ireland and the Irish people.
As I previously stated in my response to question number 34 of 12 April 2017, I can confirm that no agreement has been entered into by the State to grant any permission to the RAF, or indeed the military aircraft of any other state, to shoot down planes of any type under any circumstances over Ireland.
In discharging the fundamental responsibilities of the Executive as set out in the Constitution, the Government’s engagement in international security cooperation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.
