Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018
43. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of consents in writing he and his predecessors issued as per section 317(1) of the Defence Act 1954 to foreign soldiers entering or landing here in each year since 2003. [29272/18]
View answerThe wearing of foreign military uniforms in the State is governed by Section 317 of the Defence Act 1954. The provisions of this section prohibit the wearing of a foreign military uniform without ministerial permission.
My Department routinely receives such requests from various States, which are shared with other Government Departments, including the Department of Defence and the Department of Justice and Equality, for their observations and information purposes. The reasons for such requests vary from attendance at official meetings, courses and seminars, to diplomatic functions.
In the context of the requirements of Section 317 of the Defence Act 1954, express permission was granted by the then Minister for Foreign Affairs in January 2003 to the US authorities for their military personnel to wear their uniforms in the transit area of Irish airports. Where it is necessary for such personnel to move beyond these areas, a specific request must be sought.
In the following table I have provided the number of uniform requests granted by my Department from 2013 to 29 June 2018, based on the information currently to hand. It was not possible in the time available to provide the required detail from 2003.
|
Year |
Number of consents granted |
|
2013 |
38 |
|
2014 |
38 |
|
2015 |
45 |
|
2016 |
78 |
|
2017 |
67 |
|
2018 up to 29 June |
41 |
