Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Section 3(4)(b) refers to “arrang[ing] for the seizure of any goods on board in contravention of this Act by the Defence Forces”. Let us say, for example, an aircraft is inspected and is found to have goods that are in contravention of the Act. Under what legislation specifically would this action be legally carried out by our Defence Forces? Where in the legislation have our Defence Forces got the authority to go onto an aircraft belonging to a foreign country and seize goods that are in contravention of the Bill, if it passes? What legal basis is there for that? Once again, how will we implement and action the Bill if there is no legal basis for it? Perhaps somebody can enlighten me and tell me what the legal basis is for the Defence Forces to seize anything from anybody on any aircraft entering this country.

We have had much discussion today about aircraft that have been notified or granted permission to fly into or over Ireland. I ask the Minister of State to bring back to this House details of the permissions that were granted, for example, soldiers transiting to EU posts where they are serving, such as United States soldiers who serve in Germany or other parts of Europe and are bound to bring their personal weapons with them. How many of the exemptions granted were actually for munitions to be transited to Israel? Regarding munitions being transited through Irish airspace or Ireland, if they are being transited to Germany, for example, what control have we got over those munitions once they arrive in Germany? We have to be really careful about what we are doing here. We have to mind that we are not trying to enact something that is totally and utterly inoperable.