Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the numbers of United States of America troops and military hardware that passed through Shannon Airport during the period 2001 to date 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19430/16]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Despite the Minister's previous answers to Deputy Paul Murphy and answers he has given in the past, I would like him to detail the numbers of US troops and military hardware that have passed through Shannon Airport from 2001 to date. The Twin Towers were attacked in 2001 and the war on Iraq followed subsequently. I would like the Minister to address that matter factually, as best he can.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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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. Permission must be sought in advance for landings by all foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft, and, if granted, is subject to strict conditions. These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, must not engage in intelligence gathering, the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations and the aircraft must carry no arms, ammunition or explosives.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has primary responsibility for the regulation of foreign civil aircraft in Ireland. Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order of 1973, the carriage of munitions of war through Irish airspace or Irish airports is prohibited on civil aircraft unless an exemption has been obtained from the Minister. In considering applications for exemptions, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport consults with a number of Departments, including my Department. However, the final decision on all applications lies with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to whom any questions regarding the quantity of munitions transported by civil aircraft landing at Shannon Airport should be addressed.

In considering requests for landings by foreign military aircraft, my Department’s primary focus is on whether the flights in question comply with conditions which I have already outlined. These conditions do not include a requirement in relation to the numbers and designation of passengers. Accordingly, my Department does not compile records of the numbers of passengers, including military personnel, travelling on foreign military aircraft.

Any queries regarding the numbers of US military personnel who pass through Shannon Airport on chartered civil aircraft should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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This is an extraordinary example of passing the parcel with people's lives. The Minister says that permission must be sought in advance and the final decision, extraordinarily, rests with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, not with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence. It is an extraordinary system that allows Ministers to pass responsibility from one to the other without really taking responsibility for 1 million troops passing through Shannon. Even if those 1 million troops do not have arms, ammunition or explosives, although we cannot prove that, they are still going through for a reason. These human beings are being used to engage in war on other people through invasion. The Minister cannot deny that affects decent foreign policy.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I remind the Deputy that prior permission is required for all foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports. Permission is subject to a strict set of conditions and criteria. Bilateral relations between friendly nations are founded on mutual trust and both parties have an interest in maintaining that trust. Details provided by diplomatic missions, including confirmation that aircraft are unarmed and carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, are therefore accepted in good faith as being accurate. In accordance with international practice, foreign military aircraft which are granted permission to land in Ireland are not subject to inspection.

I assure the Deputy that there is a difference between military aircraft and civilian aircraft, hence the division of responsibility between the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Defence and Tourism, Transport and Sport. Arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports continue to be strictly governed by conditions, including that they should at no stage carry arms, explosives or munitions.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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They carry soldiers and soldiers carry and fire arms and drop bombs.

The Chilchot report will be released tomorrow, nine years after it was commissioned. Comprising 2.6 million words and having cost £9 million, it will be the second earthquake to rock the British establishment in less than ten days. It will reveal engagement in war by the British establishment, in which, in terms of its co-operation in this area, the Irish Government is complicit. It is hoped that, as a result of this report, Tony Blair will be indicted for war crimes. Should he be so indicted, then the complicity of the Irish Government in allowing troops fly over and land at Shannon Airport will be clear. One million people have been slaughtered as a result of the engagement in the Middle East since the commencement of the Iraq war. We stood in silence this morning for 200 people killed in Baghdad a couple of days ago. The war and the carnage continues and we continue to allow soldiers who carry weapons and drop bombs to land at our airport.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Questions regarding the arrangements concerning the operation of the application process are a matter for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, the carriage of munitions of war is prohibited on civil aircraft travelling through Irish air space or airports unless an exemption has been obtained in advance. In considering these applications the Department of Transport seeks the advice of relevant Departments and agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. However, a decision to authorise or refuse applications for exemptions is a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

In considering applications made by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, my Department examines the nature of the munitions that it is proposed to carry. My Department will recommend against granting an exemption where the munitions in question are non-discriminatory in their effects.