Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 3 December 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions

Use of Irish Airspace and Landing Facilities: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

4:55 pm

Photo of Trevor Ó ClochartaighTrevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The other big issue raised with us by people from Shannon Watch and others concerned is that Shannon is ostensibly seen as a civilian airport but military flights land there. People who would not be happy with US foreign policy would certainly see a plane with 200 military personnel and handguns as a military flight for all intents and purposes. From our perspective, a neutrality point of view and our defence perspective, certain organisations on the planet might view Shannon Airport and the flight as a legitimate target, to put it in such terms, and there are concerns about the security of Shannon Airport and the fact that it might be attacked. Has this issue been discussed in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade? Are there concerns that allowing flights such as these, even civilian flights with guns and ammunition in the hold, to travel through creates a danger for us as a country and makes Shannon Airport a legitimate target? Is it an issue of concern?

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