asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government are aware that Shannon Airport is being used as a transit point for US military personnel being transported between West Germany and North America; if the US Government sought the permission of the Government for these troop movements; if this practice is consistent with Ireland's policy of neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US Troop Movements.
10.
On occasion, limited numbers of United States military personnel have passed through Shannon Airport. In so far as this transit involves the use of foreign military aircraft, permission has to be sought in each case from my Department, who consult with the Departments of Transport, Defence and Justice in each case. Requests for foreign military overflights and landings are considered in the light of long-standing procedures and criteria applied by successive Irish Governments. These criteria include:
— that clearance should be consistent with the Government's foreign policy as expressed in Dáil Éireann, in the United Nations and elsewhere;
— that the overflight or military landing must not be an integral part of training manoeuvres by foreign military aircraft; likewise, clearance is not granted where a troop-carrying aircraft is en route to military exercises;
— that clearance be in no way prejudicial to the security or safety of the State.
While the clearance of commercial aircraft is primarily a matter for the Minister for Transport, these same criteria apply in the case of commercial aircraft in military service. I am satisfied that in all such cases considered by my Department, these criteria were met. The granting of requests for such overflights or landings in accordance with these procedures and criteria has no implications for Ireland's neutrality.
Would the Minister indicate what kind of checks are made to ensure that where civilian flights are being used the criteria laid down are being met?
The checks and criteria are the same as in the case of military flights. The procedures concerning commercial aircraft are primarily a matter for the Minister for Transport but he applies the same checks and criteria as are applied in the case of military flights.
What procedure is adopted to ensure that the criteria are being met and that military personnel using civilian aircraft through Shannon are not armed, for instance?
The application for permission has to contain a declaration to that effect and the authorities have to be satisfied having regard to the bonafides of the people making these applications that the criteria are being met. It would not be physically possible to search every plane carrying a military person from tail to tip to ensure that there were no armaments aboard. I am not aware that there are any instances in which armaments have been discovered or that there has been any suggestion that armaments have been carried. This practice has been going on for a long time without any complaints or abuses and the people making the applications are bona fide and responsible people and we have to rely on that, as well as on our own procedures.
At least we do not shoot them down just to be on the safe side.
The even-handed way in which successive Governments have dealt equally with the USA and the USSR administrations in regard to facilities at Shannon being made available in the national interest has meant that these arrangements have worked successfully up to now. Would the Minister agree that, on one side, the United States have got their benefits, that Aeroflot have also got benefits and that that has been beneficial to Shannon Airport and to the State as a whole?
I agree that the transit arrangements which are in operation at Shannon have worked satisfactorily and have not in any way prejudiced our position.