Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will raise the issue of the ongoing use of Shannon Airport with United States authorities in view of recent court proceedings; and his views on the assertion expressed recently in court that the facilitation of the United States military at Shannon and the failure to inspect such traffic constitutes a breach of Ireland's obligations and status as a neutral country. [22890/22]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to a case which recently concluded in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
As indicated to the House previously, Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality is not inconsistent with military aircraft of other states being allowed under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, to land in Ireland under certain circumstances.
Foreign military aircraft are permitted to land in the State only if they meet strict conditions, routinely including that the aircraft is unarmed, and carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it is not engaged in intelligence gathering; and that it does not form part of a military operation or exercise.
Furthermore the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973 prohibits the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft, including on troop-carrying civil aviation operators, through Irish airspace or Irish airports, unless an exemption has been granted by the Minister for Transport. Statistics on such exemptions are published on the Department of Transport’s website.
