Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2004
218 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport his views on recent media reports that US aircraft carrying al-Qaeda suspects are passing through Shannon Airport; if an aircraft carrying two Egyptian suspects landed at Shannon on 18 January 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23992/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraSome recent press reports claim that a particular aircraft, a Gulfstream V, call sign No. N379P, has used Shannon Airport. The press reports raise the possibility that it could have been carrying prisoners when in Ireland. The press articles also carry reports of allegations that this aircraft was being used in December 2001 by US authorities for the transportation of al-Qaeda suspects from Sweden to Egypt. I understand, however, that the articles do not allege that any stops were made in Shannon at that time.
The Department of Transport has been informed by Shannon Airport management that this particular aircraft, No. N379P, owned by Premier Executive Transport Services, a small US airline, has used Shannon Airport on 13 occasions in the period 2000 to 2004. The aircraft has not used any other Irish airport. Each landing was a technical stop, that is, for refuelling or other technical reasons. On no occasion did any passengers join or leave the flight at Shannon. The aircraft used Shannon once in each year of 2000, 2001 — in September of that year — and 2003, on ten occasions in 2002 and not at all to date in 2004. On these occasions the aircraft was routed from Shannon to airports or air bases in the UK, USA, or Canada. The one occasion in 2003 when the aircraft used Shannon Airport was on 18 January 2003, for a technical stop.
There is no requirement under international or Irish law for aircraft coming into Ireland for refuelling purposes, as this aircraft has done, to notify the Department of Transport in advance, although many airlines voluntarily do so. No notification to operate this aircraft was received by the Department of Transport. There is no evidence that this aircraft was being used for any illegal activity on any occasion when it was in Shannon Airport.
