Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
992. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of permits granted for military aircraft to land at Shannon Airport and to pass through Irish airspace in each month of 2021 and to date in 2022; the countries that made the requests; the number of such permits that were refused in each month of 2021 and to date in 2022; the countries that made the requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41549/22]
View answerThe Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland and in Irish airspace. The Order provides that no foreign military aircraft shall fly over, or land in, the State without the express invitation or permission of the Minister. It further provides that the aircraft shall comply with such stipulations as the Minister may make. Requests for permission for foreign military aircraft to land in or overfly Ireland are routinely required to include confirmation that the aircraft meets specific criteria – namely, that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; and that it will not engage in intelligence gathering.
Furthermore, applications must also specify that the flights do not form part of a military exercise or operation. These conditions are applied to ensure compatibility with Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality, which is characterised by non-membership of military alliances. This policy provides a context within which requests for permission to overfly, or land in, the State are considered by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Statistics on overflights and landings of foreign military aircraft are published on my Department's website on a quarterly basis.
Statistics for Overflights and Landings of Foreign Military Aircraft for 2021 and 2022 to date
In the below table, the numbers in parentheses reflect flights which were approved but later cancelled by the requester.
|
Requester |
Approved Requests to Land at Shannon Airport |
Refused Requests to Land at Shannon Airport |
Approved Overflight Requests |
Refused Overflight Requests |
|
JANUARY 2021 |
||||
|
Canada |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
France |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
5 (1) |
0 |
|
The Netherlands |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Poland |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Switzerland |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Tunisia |
0 |
0 |
2 (2) |
0 |
|
USA |
25 (4) |
0 |
32* |
0 |
|
Total |
28 (4) |
0 |
47 (3) |
0 |
|
FEBRUARY 2021 |
||||
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
3 (1) |
0 |
|
Canada |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
France |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Honduras |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
The Netherlands |
3 (1) |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
USA |
11 (2) |
0 |
30* |
0 |
|
Total |
17 (3) |
0 |
46 (1) |
0 |
|
MARCH 2021 |
||||
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Canada |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
France |
2 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Italy |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
The Netherlands |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Spain |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
USA |
25 (3) |
0 |
28* |
0 |
|
Total |
29 (3) |
0 |
56(0) |
0 |
|
APRIL 2021 |
||||
|
Canada |
2 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
France |
2 |
0 |
5 (2) |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
The Netherlands |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Slovak Republic |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
USA |
22 (3) |
0 |
49* |
0 |
|
Total |
27 (3) |
0 |
76 (2) |
0 |
|
MAY 2021 |
||||
|
Algeria |
0 |
0 |
1(1) |
0 |
|
Canada |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
France |
2 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
2 |
0 |
4(2) |
0 |
|
The Netherlands |
0 |
0 |
1 (1) |
0 |
|
Poland |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Slovak Republic |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Turkey |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
USA |
26(2) |
0 |
35* |
0 |
|
Total |
30(2) |
0 |
67 (4) |
0 |
|
JUNE 2021 |
||||
|
Canada |
1 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
France |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Honduras |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Italy |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
The Netherlands |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
USA |
31(2) |
0 |
55* |
0 |
|
Total |
33(2) |
0 |
82(0) |
0 |
|
JULY 2021 |
||||
|
Australia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Canada |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
France |
5 |
0 |
9(1) |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Italy |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Jordan |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Mexico |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
The Netherlands |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pakistan |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Poland |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Saudi Arabia |
1(1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
USA |
16 |
6 |
50* |
0 |
|
Total |
26(1) |
6 |
74(1) |
0 |
|
AUGUST 2021 |
||||
|
Canada |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Germany |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
India |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Israel |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Italy |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Jordan |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
USA |
30(1) |
0 |
45* |
0 |
|
Total |
34(1) |
0 |
60(0) |
2 |
|
SEPTEMBER 2021 |
||||
|
Australia |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Canada |
2(1) |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Congo |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
France |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Italy |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
India |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
2 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Namibia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
The Netherlands |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Slovakia |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Tunisia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Turkey |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
Ukraine |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
UK |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
USA |
29(2) |
0 |
63* |
0 |
|
Total |
39(3) |
0 |
101(0) |
5 |
|
OCTOBER 2021 |
||||
|
Argentina |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
2(1) |
0 |
|
Canada |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
Colombia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
France |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Germany |
1 |
0 |
4(2) |
0 |
|
Greece |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Honduras |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Italy |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Jordan |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Poland |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Portugal |
0 |
0 |
2(2) |
0 |
|
Slovakia |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Switzerland |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
USA |
22 |
0 |
51* |
0 |
|
Total |
27(0) |
0 |
87(5) |
0 |
|
NOVEMBER 2021 |
||||
|
Australia |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Canada |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
France |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Germany |
1 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
|
Greece |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Italy |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jordan |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Netherlands |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Poland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Spain |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Switzerland |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
USA |
34(1) |
0 |
45* |
0 |
|
Total |
40(1) |
0 |
69(0) |
1 |
|
DECEMBER 2021 |
||||
|
Australia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Canada |
1(1) |
0 |
1(1) |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
6(1) |
0 |
|
Italy |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Poland |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
USA |
7(2) |
0 |
36*(1) |
0 |
|
Total |
9(3) |
0 |
54(3) |
0 |
|
JANUARY 2022 |
||||
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
5(2) |
0 |
|
China |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
France |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
7(1) |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
2 |
0 |
3(2) |
0 |
|
Netherlands |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Slovak Republic |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Turkey |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
USA |
16(3) |
0 |
35* |
0 |
|
Total |
19(3) |
0 |
65(5) |
0 |
|
FEBRUARY 2022 |
||||
|
Australia |
0 |
0 |
2(2) |
0 |
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
3(1) |
0 |
|
Canada |
0 |
0 |
2(1) |
0 |
|
Colombia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
France |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
12(2) |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
India |
0 |
0 |
1(1) |
0 |
|
Italy |
1(1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mexico |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Pakistan |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
USA |
21(7) |
0 |
50* |
0 |
|
Total |
27(8) |
0 |
79(7) |
0 |
|
MARCH 2022 |
||||
|
Australia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
3(1) |
0 |
|
Canada |
1 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Czech Republic |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
France |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
11(2) |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Italy |
1 |
0 |
2(1) |
0 |
|
Japan |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Mexico |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
UK |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
USA |
38(3) |
0 |
68* |
0 |
|
Total |
45(3) |
0 |
103(4) |
1 |
|
APRIL 2022 |
||||
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Canada |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Czech Rep. |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
France |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
0 |
11(2) |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Italy |
0 |
0 |
2(1) |
0 |
|
Jordan |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
0 |
0 |
2(1) |
0 |
|
New Zealand |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Pakistan |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Switzerland |
0 |
0 |
2(1) |
0 |
|
Turkey |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Ukraine |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
USA |
36(7) |
0 |
52* |
1 |
|
Total |
42(7) |
0 |
96(5) |
1 |
|
MAY 2022 |
||||
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Canada |
2 |
0 |
10 |
0 |
|
Colombia |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Czech Rep. |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
France |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Germany |
0 |
1 |
9 |
0 |
|
Greece |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Indonesia |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Italy |
2 |
0 |
5(2) |
0 |
|
Jordan |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Kuwait |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Qatar |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Slovak Republic |
2(2) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Switzerland |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Turkey |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
USA |
56(4) |
0 |
59* |
0 |
|
Total |
63(6) |
1 |
112(2) |
2 |
|
JUNE 2022 |
||||
|
Bahrain |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Canada |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
France |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Germany |
1 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
Hungary |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
Italy |
4(2) |
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
Japan |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Jordan |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
Netherlands |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
New Zealand |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Pakistan |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
UK |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
USA |
20(2) |
0 |
49* |
0 |
|
Total |
29(4) |
0 |
78(0) |
0 |
*In the case of US military aircraft, under the terms of a specific arrangement dating from 1959, overflights are permitted without prior notification, on condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry only cargo and passengers, and comply with navigational requirements. If a proposed US military overflight does not meet these criteria, this arrangement does not apply, and advance permission must be requested. The standard conditions would then apply. The US Embassy submits post-facto notifications of military aircraft overflights to the Department of Foreign Affairs on a monthly basis. Accordingly, the overflight figures for USA in these tables are the total of post-facto notifications of overflights and advance permissions for overflights.
