Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 October 2023
127. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the role of his Department in ensuring that SI 224/1973 - Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, is being upheld and enforced; if his Department has records of any breach of this statutory instrument; if so, to provide the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47083/23]
View answerUnder 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.
My department operates a robust system, in consultation with other Government Departments, whereby applications may be made to seek an exemption from the prohibition of the carriage of munitions of war, it is well known and understood by air operators.
Furthermore, the State's Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), an internationally adopted standard, contains details of regulations, procedures, and other essential information regarding the operation of aircraft in Ireland, and provides details on the carriage of munitions of war and the requirement for operators to seek an exemption to permit such carriage.
In addition, the State's flight authorisation process for both scheduled air services and non-scheduled flights draws operators’ attention to the separate application process should there be an intention to carry such munitions of war on commercial flights.
Article 8 of the aforementioned Orders provides that where an aircraft, whenever it appears either to the Minister for Transport or a person authorised by the Minister, is intended or likely to be flown from any place in the State in a manner that would contravene this order, the Minister for Transport or that person so authorised may give the pilot-in-command such instruction or to take such steps so as to prevent the flight.
To date, such an appearance of intention or likelihood of contravention has not occurred.
