Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Last year, Mr. Burgess received 700 of those requests. Is that in line with previous years? Perhaps there are spikes or peaks over the years. Sometimes, that tells us something. I would be grateful for that information.

I will not go back and argue the case about the military coming under Article 29 through the international law and the immunity that applies automatically. I understand it is a constitutional matter although other members and members of the public may have a problem with it.

We have some capacity to offer some change on the charter flights. Mr. Burgess specifies, as did the Garda Síochána when we were in Shannon, that the Garda Síochána must have cause to search and cannot undertake random searches. That is something we could change. The proposition exists for a change to the law where, on chartered flights, which do not fall under the agreement on world immunity in Article 29, we could say random searches could be agreed. We know the purpose of some of the aircraft. What else are they apart from carrying military? What is the view of Mr. Burgess on whether this possible?