I propose to take Questions Nos. 894 to 897, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the functions of the Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, (as amended) relate only to the carriage of munitions on board civil aircraft. My Department does not maintain records of the number of troops transiting through Shannon Airport. It is understood that Shannon Airport Authority maintains statistics on all passenger numbers, including US troops, transiting through the airport. Under the provisions of the Order an exemption is granted in respect of specified aircraft in regard to a particular aircraft operation. A single exemption permit is issued per aircraft and the permit is not based on the number of weapons and munitions carried on board each aircraft.
The granting of an Exemption for the carriage of munitions of war is organised around a long-established procedure for considering applications from airlines to land aircraft in Ireland or transit through Irish sovereign airspace with munitions of war on board. Decisions on whether to grant permission for the carriage of munitions are guided by the views of other relevant Government Departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Justice. In the event that any objections are raised in relation to prevailing Foreign Policy considerations, the relevant applications are refused by my Department.