Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Mar 2003

Vol. 562 No. 5

Written Answers - Military Neutrality.

Dan Boyle

Ceist:

135 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Government allows troops to transit through Shannon and military aircraft to overfly while neutral Austria does not allow US troops to overfly or transit its country because of its neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6531/03]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

It would not be appropriate for me, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, to comment on the policy approach of another EU member state such as Austria, in this area. This is a matter for the Austrian authorities, having regard to their particular circumstances. Unlike Austria, Ireland's geographical position places it on the main flight path between North America and Europe. For many decades, military aircraft of various nationalities have been flying over and landing in Ireland. The practice of facilitating the overflights and landings of US military aircraft continued throughout the Cold War and all the conflicts, wars and upheavals of the last fifty years. It has been maintained under successive Governments comprising various political parties.

The procedures for implementing the regulations applying to overflights and landings have been tightened in recent months. This Government has done more than all of its predecessors put together to ensure that the practices and arrangements built up over the years are operated in compliance with the strict legal requirements. With reference to the Government's policy on overflights and landings by foreign military aircraft, it is worth recalling that UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and the head of UNMOVIC, Dr. Hans Blix, have confirmed that the pressure placed so far upon Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi regime has had an impact and, without that pressure, the weapons inspectors would not be back in Iraq today.