Dr. Edward Horgan:

Yes, we would have cause for optimism following the recent changes in the Garda. However, it is clearly our experience at Shannon that the problems do not just exist at the top. The culture goes right down to the lower level and that is problematic. In regard to the information we receive through parliamentary questions in the Dáil, particularly from the Departments of foreign affairs and transport, we are continually told, by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in particular, that approval is only given for US military planes to pass through Shannon Airport if they are not carrying arms, not carrying munitions, the troops are not engaged in military exercises, not involved in military operations and a whole lot of other reasons.

It beggars belief that any US military plane would land at Shannon Airport other than if it was carrying weapons or troops and involved in military operations. They are not going golfing in military planes. We have seen soldiers get out of those planes. In one case last year, we saw a 30 mm cannon, which is normally armed with depleted uranium bullets, at the airport. This issue was fobbed off as if it was an administrative error. The only administrative error was that the crew forgot to pull the gun in before the plane landed. From my military experience and from my knowledge of the US army, with whom I have worked overseas, army personnel never leave the United States in a military plane without arms and ammunition on board. Every US soldier who leaves the United States carries his or her own personal weapon and ammunition with him or her. Therefore, the information we are receiving, particularly from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is untrue. It is either being misinformed by the US Embassy and authorities or it is deliberately obfuscating.

In regard to the civilian or chartered plains carrying US troops through the airport, up to 2.5 million troops have gone through since 2001. We know these troops are all armed. We know Tom Clonan, the security expert, has seen the arms on board the planes at Shannon Airport, yet we are told the Minister for transport, Deputy Varadkar, gives permission for these planes to land, more or less on a daily basis. It is his responsibility to give permission, but he does not have authority or responsibility to be in breach of international law. It is clearly in breach of international law to allow a plane load of troops on its way to a military operation or on its way to war to pass through Shannon Airport or a neutral country. It is his job to authorise or refuse permission for this. It is his obligation to refuse to authorise all such planes carrying armed troops of a belligerent power. He is not doing that.