Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 June 2022
141. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the number of unidentified aerial phenomena that were recorded by the Defence Forces in Ireland in the period since World War II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28342/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra142. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if Irish authorities have engaged in any way with representatives of other governments, particularly the United States on the subject of unidentified aerial phenomena; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28343/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra143. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence if he or members of his Department have had the opportunity to review the findings of the United States House Intelligence, Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterproliferation Subcommittee hearing on unidentified aerial phenomena, which took place in Washington earlier in May 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28344/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 142 and 143 together.
My Department has not had any engagement with external bodies or other States in relation to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and there are no contemporary recordings of sightings or otherwise of UAPs by the Defence Forces. Should the Deputy require a full retrospective as suggested, I request additional time for a search to be carried out with Military Archives to determine if any such information exists.
I suggest that my colleague, the Minister for Transport, may be in a better position to advise on comtemporary reports or recordings of UAPs given that the Irish Aviation Authority comes under his remit.
To date my Department has not reviewed the findings of the United States House Intelligence, Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterproliferation Subcommittee hearing on UAPs and I thank the Deputy for drawing my attention to this matter.
