Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
279. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport how many exemptions have been asked for under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989 in each year since 2020; how many have been granted; the conditions, if any, that have been placed on the carriage, if agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37782/23]
View answer280. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport how his Department ensures that the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989 are being complied with in relation to the carriage of weapons; if inspections have taken place; if so, how many; when they took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37783/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together.
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 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.
An application for an exemption must detail the specific munitions of war to be carried and, on scheduled air services, exemptions granted have conditions applied conditions relating to the state of any firearm and its stowage.
The 1973 and 1989 Orders provide for the inspection of a civil aircraft, only whenever it appears that a flight would be in contravention of these Orders.
Insofar as it can be determined, there is no record of an inspection of a civil aircraft having been carried out pursuant to these Orders. However, it is possible that such an aircraft may have been subject to a safety inspection, pursuant to EU regulation, by the Irish Aviation Authority.
My Department regularly publishes information related to the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft on the gov.ie website, which is available at this link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/15da60-the-carriage-of-munitions-of-war-on-civil-aircraft/#statistics
