asked the Minister for Transport and Power what are the functions and responsibilities of his Department regarding the landing of aircraft containing consignments of arms at Irish airports.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Airports Arms Consignments.
8.
My functions and responsibilities in this matter relate to the control in the interests of air safety of the carriage of dangerous goods in public transport aircraft in or over the State or by Irish registered aircraft wherever they may be. They derive principally from section 11 of the Air Navigation and Transport Act, 1946 which empowers me to make Orders governing, among other things, the conditions under which aircraft may be used for carrying passengers and goods.
Under this Act, I made an Order known as the Air Navigation (Operations) Order, 1964. Section 14 of that Order imposes a total prohibition on the carriage of weapons and ammunition designed for use in warfare. Section 15 of the Order contains supplementary provisions for the control of the carriage of dangerous goods including ammunition.