Clare Daly
Question:237. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which his Department classifies and records US troops passing through Shannon Airport. [31582/17]
View answerWednesday, 5 July 2017
Questions (237, 238)
Clare Daly
Question:238. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the numbers of US troops transiting through Shannon Airport provided by his Department include US troops travelling on US military aircraft in addition to US troops travelling on civilian aircraft contracted to the US military; and if they do not include the former if records are kept of US troops travelling on US military aircraft. [31583/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 238 together.
The Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, S.I. 224 1973, as amended, provides that no munitions or weapons of war may be carried by an aircraft in Irish airspace without an exemption granted under the Order. My functions are limited to munitions or weapons of war; I have no function in relation to the transport of troops themselves. The primary purpose of the 1973 Order is the safety of the aircraft and the persons on board.
On that basis my Department does not keep records on the number of troops transiting through Shannon Airport as this information is collected directly by Shannon Airport.
Shannon Airport has informed my Department that the figures provided, in my reply to the Deputy on 28th June last, includes figures for US Military personnel travelling on both US military and civilian aircraft.