Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 259: To ask the Minister for Transport the steps which have been taken to try to ensure the security and the safety of the travelling public as well as workers and persons living in the vicinity of Shannon Airport in the event of serious accident, sabotage or terrorist attack, in view of the quantity of munitions, explosive substances and other dangerous materials such as depleted uranium and napalm-equivalent incendiary bombs which are widely reported to be regularly transported through the airport by the US military; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20153/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Requests for exemptions under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973 are received from civilian air carriers carrying military troops with their personal weapons and ammunition.

Requests for exemption are also received from cargo carriers. The cargo contained on these flights includes items such as helicopter parts, grenades and cartridges. These items are normally carried in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation, ICAO, regulations for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air as approved by ICAO.

As the day-to-day oversight of aviation safety falls within the remit of the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, all applications under the 1973 order, including details of the cargo carried, are submitted to the IAA for its observations. Applications are also sent to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, which in turn informs the Garda Síochána of each and every operation. Observations are also sought from the Department of Foreign Affairs, and each application is sent to the Department of Defence for information. Should any of these bodies express an objection to the operation of these flights, I would refuse to grant an exemption under the 1973 order.

In addition, the authorities at Shannon Airport are required, under the Irish Aviation Authority's aerodrome licensing procedures, to establish an emergency plan which provides for the co-ordination of the actions to be taken in the event of an emergency occurring at the aerodrome or in its vicinity. The plan must be tested by conducting a full-scale emergency exercise every two years. I understand that the airport authority conducted an exercise in November 2003 and that plans are being made for a further exercise later this year.

Foreign military aircraft may only land in or overfly Irish territory with the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I understand that permission to land or overfly Irish airspace is normally only given when the applicant foreign military aircraft are unarmed and not carrying weapons or explosives.