Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will make three points in response to what Deputy O'Callaghan made reference to earlier.

On overflights, there are set regulations and legislation governing that. I will ask the Minister for Transport to again pursue the issue the Deputy has raised with regard to Lufthansa. We cannot physically stop planes but we can certainly take actions subsequently.

There are no planes landing at Shannon with weapons for Gaza. People should not be referencing that casually as if it is a fact; it is not. It is just not happening. We need to ground everything we say on truth, accuracy and precision. This line gets trotted out about Shannon Airport and Gaza wrongly and falsely.

Equally, Deputy O'Callaghan mentioned in passing about strip searching and so on. I know the Minister for Justice has pursued this with the Garda Commissioner. I have asked the Minister for Justice for the most up-to-date reports. The issue of strip searching is being strenuously denied by An Garda Síochána. From what I understand, An Garda Síochána would take strong issue with what was asserted in the House last week in respect of that. I must put that on the record.

I will pursue the first issue with regard to the overflights, which is problematic for us. People normally alert us in advance. If they do not, they are breaking the law.

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