Military Aircraft Landings

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2015

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Ceisteanna (657, 658)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

657. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of permissions sought for military aircraft from the United States of America to overfly Irish airspace on 28 February 2015; the type of aircraft involved in these permissions; if the EC-130 H which made an emergency landing on that date had been given permission to overfly Irish airspace; if permission was granted, the basis for same, particularly in view of the Minister's previous statements to the effect that permission is not granted for the conduct of military operations in Irish airspace. [14556/15]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

658. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the basis for the permission that was given to land the EC-130 H aircraft at Shannon on 28 February 2015. [14557/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 657 and 658 together.

The US is granted blanket permission for overflights by unarmed military aircraft. The US Embassy provides my Department with post hoc monthly statistical returns on the total number of overflights by such aircraft. Its return for February 2015 states that there were 48 such overflights by transport, passenger and refuelling aircraft.

In my replies to Question No. 448 of 10 March 2015 and Question Nos. 740, 743, 748, 749 and 750 of 24 March, I provided detailed information concerning the landing of this US military aircraft at Shannon Airport on 28 February. I confirmed that the aircraft had been given permission to land and I also stated that the US Embassy had confirmed that the aircraft did not form part of military exercises or operations.