Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
14. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs how he will ensure that the cluster munitions agreed by the USA to be given to Ukraine for use will not be transported through Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35648/23]
View answer39. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will set out 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. [36000/23]
View answer64. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs 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. [37171/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 39 and 64 together.
Ireland has held a strong and unwavering commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) since its adoption in Dublin in 2008. Along with over 100 States Parties to the CCM, we maintain our position that these weapons are by their nature, indiscriminate and imprecise. As such, Ireland will continue to uphold our obligation not to facilitate the carriage of such munitions either on military or civil aircraft.
Foreign military aircraft are permitted to land in the State only if they meet strict conditions, including that the aircraft be unarmed, and carry 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.
There is also a long-standing process in place concerning the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory. Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so from the Minister for Transport.
In considering any application for such an exemption in respect of munitions of war, the Department of Transport consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice to determine if there are foreign policy or security considerations to take into account. The process is robust and includes advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of international humanitarian law, Ireland’s international obligations and our wider arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation policy.
