Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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131. To ask the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces personnel who were on duty on the runway at Shannon Airport on 22 February and 2 March conducted searches of US military aircraft. [13718/14]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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138. To ask the Minister for Defence the reason Defence forces personnel were stationed in front of US warplanes at Shannon airport on 22 February 2014 and 2 March 2014; and if any inspections of the aircraft took place. [12966/14]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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This question relates to the role of Defence Forces personnel at Shannon Airport, an issue highlighted by the heroic Margaretta D'Arcy. I welcome her release from prison and acknowledge the role she played in defending Ireland's neutrality. While she was in prison, on a number of occasions Defence Forces personnel were present in front of US aircraft at Shannon Airport. I hope the Minister will tell me they were there to conduct searches of the aircraft because it appeared that they were there to protect them.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 138 together.

An Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid for the civil power, ATCP, which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. There is ongoing and close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces regarding security matters. The Defence Forces have deployed personnel to Shannon Airport in response to requests for support from An Garda Síochána since 5 February 2003.

In respect of the dates of 22 February and 2 March 2014, requests for Defence Forces support were received from An Garda Síochána. With regard to inspections of aircraft, the Defence Forces have no responsibility for searching US military aircraft that land at Shannon Airport.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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It is obvious that the most significant threat to security at Shannon is the role of the US military. I do not know if the Minister read the article in The Guardian last week which revealed that the US Government sent 100 Hellfire missiles to Iraq over the past number of weeks. We do not know whether those weapons were transported through Shannon but a number of US Air Force aircraft refuelled at Shannon and were present there over the past period. It is appalling that the Minister has confirmed that none of these aircraft was searched by the Defence Forces or the Garda, yet Irish taxpayers' money was expended on having the Defence Forces there. The Minister might like to comment on the fact that a couple of days before Margaretta D'Arcy went onto the runway at Shannon last year there had been a US military aircraft on the runway which had a 30-mm modified Mk 44 cannon located on the front of the fuselage in front of its wings. These aircraft carry depleted uranium. It is highly probable that the aircraft contained the ammunition to go with that. This is an erosion of our neutrality. Why have no searches been conducted?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The incident to which the Deputy refers was contrary to normal conditions that apply to foreign military aircraft overflying or landing in Ireland. It is down to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade that this incident was raised at the highest level with the US Embassy by senior officials in his Department. The US Embassy expressed regret over the incident and explained that it had taken place as a result of an administrative error. That is all I can say to the Deputy about the particular incident she raised.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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That is not good enough. The Minister is not in a position to say whether it was contrary to normal conditions because the Irish State has refused to carry out any searches of the aircraft. The Minister does not know; he is relying on the word of the US authorities. Anybody with expertise in military matters would confirm that it is highly improbable that the aircraft was carrying the cannon and not the ammunition. Depleted uranium results in enormous devastation. The very fact that it was present is a breach of our neutrality. Would the Minister please reconsider the situation and agree that he does not have the authority to say it was abnormal and that he does not know because he refuses to carry out any searches?

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Turn a blind eye.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have no knowledge - nor has Deputy Daly - of any aircraft landing in Shannon that was carrying the munitions to Iraq that she mentioned. If the Deputy has information that could confirm that she is very welcome to furnish it to me. I do not jump to assumptions regarding these matters. I cannot add to what I have said on this matter. For many years it has been the case that US aircraft land in Shannon. I do not see why that should be a cause of difficulty. It is extremely unwise for individuals to enter parts of Shannon Airport where they could do themselves harm or cause others to be harmed. Shannon is used in an appropriate manner. The Tánaiste has addressed the incident Deputy Daly raised and has received the assurances that he reported to me, as I mentioned, from the American authorities.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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It is difficult for us to know if the airport is being used at all times in an appropriate manner when we do not search the aircraft. It defies all rationality that we assume that what the Americans tell us is true. Any keen follower of foreign affairs would know that the same people would say mass. The recent revelations about the National Security Agency, NSA, and what the Americans have got up to, despite repeated contradictions, have even further undermined their credibility. Without a doubt, there are arms and troops going through Shannon that are being used for illegal wars.

Between Afghanistan, Yemen, Ethiopia, Somalia and Iraq, there is much illegal activity that we have facilitated. This breaches our neutrality, although we have not signed the Hague document. We still have obligations as a declared neutral country and must take some responsibility. We are reneging on our responsibilities by refusing to search these aeroplanes.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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If, in the context of aeroplanes landing at Shannon Airport during the course of this year, the Deputy can provide additional information which indicates that the arrangements and agreements relating to such landings are being violated or that armaments are being carried when they should not be, I will have the matter examined. I am open to correction, but he seems to be operating on the assumption that the arrangements in place are being violated. I cannot act on that assumption, but the Deputy is welcome to furnish me evidence of the allegations. He has referenced Somalia where there is a UN training mission in which the Defence Forces are participating. It is a difficult conflict zone and I do not know from where the reference to Somalia comes. The Deputy mentioned a number of other troubled regions in the world, but I have no information that indicates bombs or other munitions are being landed at Shannon Airport at all or regularly, as he seemed to suggest. However, he can provide the details.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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We know no military aircraft has been checked, despite the fact that the Government jet, when used by the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, was searched at Dulles Airport in Washington a while back. The Minister has indicated that I should come up with the evidence to prove ammunition is passing through Shannon Airport that should not be. I am not the Minister for Defence. If the Minister wants to find out what is on the aeroplanes, all he has to do is organise a search. It is not an unreasonable request. It is little wonder the likes of Margaretta D'Arcy have to go on the runway to highlight the fact that aeroplanes are not being searched by the Government. The Minister is driving people onto the runway by refusing to organise searches.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have not driven anybody onto a runway. It would be very unwise to drive people to such a place.