Military Aircraft

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Questions (89)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

89. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if an aircraft (details supplied) which was on contract to the US military and which arrived at Shannon Airport at approximately 02.53 am on 6 September 2023, coming from Hunter US army airfield in Savannah in Georgia and returned to Shannon Airport at approximately 03.34 am on 7 September 2023, was authorised to carry weapons and/or munitions; to confirm whether or not this aircraft was searched or investigated while it was at Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39840/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

An application for an exemption, pursuant to Article 5 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, was submitted for the flight that arrived at Shannon Airport on 6 September. However, the air operator later informed, after seeking clarification from its customer, that no munitions of war would be transported on this particular flight. Therefore, the requirement to be granted an exemption was no longer necessary.

The flight on 7 September was a positioning flight, that the air operator informed did not carry munitions of war or passengers, therefore no application for an exemption was necessary.

While at Shannon Airport, no searches or investigations for munitions of war were conducted on this aircraft.