Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2024
203. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport what additional measures have been put in place by his Department to screen aircraft seeking exemptions under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989 to ensure that Ireland is not being used as a transit point for weapons which may be exported to Israel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18998/24]
View answer204. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport the number of exemptions under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989 granted for weapons going to or coming from Germany in the period October 2023 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18999/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
In 2023 and to date in 2024, no applications have been received or exemptions granted, to permit the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft flying to a point in Israel.
My Department requires that each application made for an exemption under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989 details the munitions of war that will be carried onboard the aircraft concerned.
Civil air operators contracted by the US military to transport its personnel to and from locations outside of the US are required to seek an exemption in accordance with the 1973 and 1989 orders when transiting through Irish airspace or landing at an Irish airport where the personal issued weapons of the troops, generally consisting of rifles and pistols, are being carried on board as these are otherwise prohibited.
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. To date, such an appearance of intention or likelihood of contravention has not occurred.
The Department is not aware of any evidence to suggest that Ireland is being used as a transit point for weapons which may be exported to Israel. Therefore, no additional measures to screen relevant civil aircraft, have been put in place.
The data the Deputy has requested for the period up to the end of March 2024 (the last complete month for which the data has been compiled) is as follows:.
The total number of exemptions granted for aircraft operations either originating in or destined for a point in Germany, from October 2023 to March 2024.
|
Month |
Total |
Originating in |
Destined for |
|
October 2023 |
42 |
23 |
19 |
|
November 2023 |
43 |
25 |
18 |
|
December 2023 |
29 |
15 |
14 |
|
January 2024 |
21 |
10 |
11 |
|
February 2024 |
34 |
16 |
18 |
|
March 2024 |
46 |
23 |
23 |
|
Total |
215 |
112 |
103 |
These statistics are largely consistent with the equivalent period 12 months prior (from October 2022 to March 2023) which saw 205 exemptions granted for aircraft operations either originating in or destined for a point in Germany.
