Paul Murphy
Question:35. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport to provide a record of all exemptions provided to carry weapons and munitions of war through Irish ports and airports since January 2022. [50104/23]
View answerWednesday, 15 November 2023
Questions (35, 45)
Paul Murphy
Question:45. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport to provide a record of all US Military contracted flights that have passed through Shannon Airport since the beginning of October 2023 [50106/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 45 together.
Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory is prohibited, unless granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport.
For the month of October this year, 92 flights by US civil air operators, flying between the US and locations outside of the US, with a stop at Shannon Airport, had been granted exemptions.
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
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 this Department has no role in facilitating or approval of munitions through Irish ports.