Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
1042. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of US troops and the quantities of weapons and munitions that have passed through Shannon Airport between 27 February 2002 and 5 March 2020 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4449/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe carriage of munitions of war on board civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory and on Irish registered civil aircraft, wherever they may be, is governed by the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders, 1973 and 1989.
My Department publishes statistics online regarding the number of such applications made and further details the numbers that are granted, refused and cancelled. These statistics are available at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/15da60-the-carriage-of-munitions-of-war-on-civil-aircraft/
My Department has no function with regard to the transit of foreign military personnel through Irish sovereign territory or Irish airports.
Shannon Airport Authority has informed my Department that the number of US military personnel that transited through Shannon Airport between March 2002 and February 2020 were:
|
Year |
Number of US military personnel that transited Shannon Airport |
|
2002 (March to December) |
69,788 |
|
2003 |
125,855 |
|
2004 |
158,549 |
|
2005 |
340,688 |
|
2006 |
280,785 |
|
2007 |
262,816 |
|
2008 |
256,363 |
|
2009 |
264,968 |
|
2010 |
236,253 |
|
2011 |
247,761 |
|
2012 |
101,709 |
|
2013 |
74,736 |
|
2014 |
65,948 |
|
2015 |
63,549 |
|
2016 |
48,786 |
|
2017 |
61,041 |
|
2018 |
93,852 |
|
2019 |
86,653 |
|
2020 (January to February) |
12,686 |
