Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
209. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport the measures he has taken to ensure that Ireland does not facilitate the transit of cluster munitions through Irish airports, ports or airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35999/23]
View answer275. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline, pursuant to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the safeguards and procedures in place to prevent the transfer of cluster munitions through Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37172/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 275 together.
Ireland has held a strong and unwavering commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) since its adoption in Dublin in 2008 and will continue to uphold its obligation not to transfer cluster munitions, including by not facilitating the carriage of such munitions either on military or civil aircraft.
The carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft is governed by the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989. In these orders, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport.
In considering any application for such an exemption, my department consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice to determine if there are any foreign policy or security considerations to take into account. The advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs would be in respect of international humanitarian law, Ireland’s international obligations and our wider arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation policy.
Operations by foreign state aircraft, including foreign military aircraft, is a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Safe transport by sea of packaged goods is covered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. This covers stowage and segregation for safety on-board and the protection of the marine environment. The exact definition of an item to be carried depends on its UN Number and there may be special provisions under the IMDG Code for its safe transportation. The IMDG Code is not concerned with permissioning or facilitation of transport, its only function is for safe transportation. As such, my department has no role in facilitating or approval of munitions through Irish ports.
