Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

I have been quite clear in relation to this matter, in relation to the role my Department plays, in relation to the types of flights that require diplomatic clearance, in relation to the monthly log that is published on the Government’s website and in relation to the system of exemptions that operates under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, as operated by the Department of Transport. I have also been clear that in 2023, 2024 and to date this year, no applications have been received or exemptions granted for the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft to a point in Israel. I think this is important. That is why I have put the information on the record of the Dáil that my Department has informed me that it has reviewed its records, and the flight in question was a civil aircraft that travelled from South Carolina to Athens in Greece and landed in Shannon Airport on 12 October for a technical stopover.

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