Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Military Overflights.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2004

Tuesday, 9 November 2004

Ceisteanna (156)

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

213 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of overflights of foreign military aircraft which have taken place over Irish airspace in the five years by year and country to October 2004; if all these overflights had prior permission by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27919/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In the year 2000, permission was granted for 1,963 foreign military aircraft to overfly Ireland. Permission was granted to the following countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Botswana, Egypt, Germany, France, Greece, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Oman, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine, the UK and the United States.

In the year 2001, permission was granted for 1,766 foreign military aircraft to overfly Ireland. Permission was granted to the following countries: Algeria, Australia, Belgium Botswana, Egypt, Germany, France, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK, the United States and the Republic of Yemen.

In the year 2002, permission was granted for 2,460 foreign military aircraft to overfly Ireland. Permission was granted to the following countries: Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Israel, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the UK, the United States and the Republic of Yemen.

In the year 2003, permission was granted for 3,691 foreign military aircraft to overfly Ireland. Permission was granted to the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK and the United States.

In the year 2004, to date — 1 January to 31 October — permission has been granted for 3,110 foreign military aircraft to overfly Ireland. Permission was granted to the following countries: Belgium, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the UK and the United States.

Permission for foreign military aircraft to overfly the State is granted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952. Permission is normally granted on condition that the foreign military aircraft is unarmed and not carrying arms, ammunition or explosives. The specific arrangements that apply to the United States of America regarding overflights were agreed in an exchange of letters in January 1959 between the then Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Frank Aiken, and the US Ambassador. Under this agreement, the US is granted blanket permission for overflights of unarmed military aircraft. The US Embassy provides regular post hoc statistics of overflights, broken down by month. It is not the practice of the Government to release details of an individual country’s landings and overflights.

Barr
Roinn