Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Transport if a jet (details supplied) has ever landed at Shannon Airport; if prisoners were ever transported through that airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30003/04]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, aircraft may come into Ireland for technical stops such as for refuelling purposes, as this aircraft has done, without notifying the Department of Transport, and no notification about this aircraft was received by my Department.

My Department has been informed by Shannon Airport management that this particular aircraft, registration N8068V, has used Shannon Airport three times in 2004, and has not used Shannon Airport on any date prior to 2004. Each landing was a technical stop, that is, for refuelling or other technical reasons. On no occasion did any passengers join or leave the flight at Shannon.

Furthermore, I understand that the US authorities have confirmed to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the US has not used Irish airports for the transit of prisoners to or from the detention centre at Guantanamo or elsewhere. I also understand that the US side has confirmed that they would not transit Irish airspace or use Irish airports for this purpose without seeking the authorisation of the Irish authorities.