Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, made under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946, gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. Successive Ministers for Foreign Affairs have put in place strict conditions which must be satisfied before permission to overfly the territory of the State may be granted. Thorough and robust procedures are in place in my Department with a view to ensuring that the conditions for securing permission for foreign military aircraft to overfly the State are clearly understood and properly applied. These procedures are kept under ongoing review.

Comprehensive records on requests received and decisions made are retained for the purposes of monitoring and oversight and are drawn on as needed including to provide information to this House, as appropriate.

I cannot comment on any reports concerning national security matters or responses that might be taken in the event of an attack on Ireland or a serious and immediate security threat to Ireland or its people. However, I can state that in discharging the fundamental responsibilities of the Executive as set out in the Constitution, the Government’s engagement in international security co-operation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.

See this speech in context