Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's excuses are getting ever thinner. The only thing these aircraft do is engage in military operations, so what does the Minister think they are doing, for example, on the two occasions every day that the US military land in Shannon, if they are not involved in such miliary operations? The point is that it is clearly insufficient for the Minister to rely on diplomatic assurances. His answer to me would seem to suggest the reports he gets come after the landings, which is insufficient.

Will the Minister comment on military contracted aircraft? Twice this month we have had aircraft from Sun Country Airlines and, only this week, Miami Air International landing in Shannon with civilian call signs and then changing those call signs to military ones. How is the Department tracking those airplanes? These aircraft have been tracked to destinations which are at present involved in bombings in Syria and are then coming back to Shannon and changing their code from civilian to military. What measures does the Minister have in place to monitor these airlines to ensure they are in compliance with the rigorous conditions he has outlined to the House?

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