Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is a sort of secret pact between the British and Irish authorities which allows the RAF to intervene in Irish-controlled airspace in the event of a terrorist incident involving civil aviation in our skies. This pact has been much speculated upon in this House since 2001 and in the media since 2016. When I raised it previously with the Minister, he said it was a national security matter. This morning he said that there is no agreement. That is an interesting choice of words because an agreement has to be laid before the House. The question was whether an informal arrangement, pact or similar understanding exists now or ever has existed.

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