Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

48. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if it is the case that Defence Forces personnel involved in aid to civil power duties at Shannon Airport in 2018 were not protecting US military aircraft involved in war or military activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39997/18]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is not a new question, but there are always new circumstances. The world insists on throwing up new facts to support the case that what we are allowing to happen at Shannon is unethical, criminal and morally indefensible. For more than 15 years we have allowed our airspace and airports to be used to fuel the destruction of any country that gets in the way of the hegemony of the United States via the dispossession and murder of the people of these countries which are increasingly targeted on outright false and fabricated pretences. This action of ours can only be defended by a barely cohesive combination of the obfuscation of the truth, the bending of moral principles and wilful ignorance of the facts about what is being done in our name. We know that planes are involved in endless war, and Ireland is involved as well, as long as this behaviour continues.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence 2015 is the provision of aid to the civil power, ATCP, which in practice means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. On each occasion that the support of the Defence Forces is required, including at Shannon Airport, An Garda Síochána requests their assistance and, accordingly, any security assessments and consequent decisions to seek support from the Defence Forces are a matter for An Garda Síochána.

The issue of overflights by foreign military aircraft and the use of Shannon by foreign military aircraft are the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. However, it should be highlighted that successive Governments have made overflight and landing facilities available at Shannon Airport to the United States for well over 50 years. These arrangements do not amount to any form of military alliance with the US and are governed by strict conditions, applied to ensure compatibility with our traditional policy of military neutrality.

I am satisfied that there is ongoing and close liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and between my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality regarding security matters generally, including the Defence Forces ATCP roles.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister has spoken about the past 50 years, but he knows well that the beginning of the war in Afghanistan in 2001 was a game-changer in terms of how Shannon Airport is used. The American military has been using Shannon to funnel death and destruction around the world. What it is doing in Yemen today has to be the most inhuman and disgusting episode yet. What is happening to that country is horrific, and we do not even get proper news coverage of it because the mainstream media is controlled in terms of the information being presented on that conflict. The line bandied about is that the people being targeted are Houthis and supported by Iran. That is absolute nonsense. They are ordinary people, fighting for their lives and their dignity.

White phosphorous was dropped in north Yemen by the bucketful. Did it come through Shannon? Do we care? The Minister has said that other Departments are making these calls, but the Defence Forces are in Shannon and are looking after planes that could be carrying cluster bombs or white phosphorous on their way to Yemen, the Saudis or the United Arab Emirates. It is simply immoral.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the points the Deputy has made and will take them on board. However, his question is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I know the Deputy is passionate about this issue, but the involvement of the Defence Forces solely consists of aid to the civil power to An Garda Síochána. I am aware that the Deputy has raised this issue on a number of occasions, but the Defence Forces involvement and role at Shannon Airport does not compromise our policy of neutrality. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of aid to the civil power, which in practice means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. Since 2003, An Garda Síochána has requested the support of the Defence Forces at Shannon Airport on a number of occasions.

The issue of overflights by foreign military aircraft and the use of Shannon Airport by foreign military aircraft are the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While I understand that four Departments are involved, the Minister of State's Department is one of them. Bad things are happening in Shannon, and the Minister of State is overseeing it. Not only are the media not telling the truth about what is going on in Shannon, but the UN itself is complicit. Two years ago, the UN told us that almost 10,000 people had been killed in Yemen. The most recent figure provided on those killed in the conflict was also around 10,000. One would swear that nobody has died there in the last two years. Millions will die of hunger there. Saudi Arabia has not been able to defeat Yemen militarily, so it has reverted to starving the people of Yemen into submission. The results of this policy will be unbelievable. I cannot believe the EU is prepared to turn a blind eye to this. A report was compiled by the UN which condemned the use of illegal cluster bombs and white phosphorous on civilians and fingered the Saudis for using such weapons. Mr. Ban Ki-Moon personally had the report rewritten to remove any reference to blaming Saudi Arabia. What is going on is unbelievable. We cannot even trust the UN to have an honest approach to this issue.

I do not know what role the Minister of State can play, but I plead with the Government to act on this at European level. Europeans cannot continue to ignore what is happening in Yemen. Millions will die if we do not do something about it.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not want to be flippant with the Deputy, but I will take his points back to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney. I know the Deputy is very passionate about this, and I understand that he has his concerns. I will pass them on. The involvement of members of the Defence Forces here is confined to ATCP. We are not involved in policy or decision-making in this area. We assist An Garda Síochána on occasion at Shannon Airport. I reassure the Deputy that our policy of military neutrality is not compromised by this. I am very aware of the issues the Deputy has raised, and I know that he is genuine and passionate about them. I assure him that I will convey the points he makes to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The question he has raised is more suited to that Department.