Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
147. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport the number of exemptions sought under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989 which he refused in each of the years 2020 to present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21053/24]
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.
When an application is received 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 matters that should be considered in respect of that application. The Irish Aviation Authority is consulted if an application also concerns the carriage of dangerous goods. The Department of Defence is informed of all applications received.
Decisions on exemptions take into consideration the positions of the abovementioned consulted bodies, as to whether the application aligns with their policy positions and procedures. Advice against the grant of an exemption by any one of the above bodies factors strongly in the final determination.
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.
From 2020 to 2023, a total of 13 applications for exemptions had been refused. In 2024, to date, two applications for exemptions have been refused.
