Written answers

Wednesday, 28 September 2005

9:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 786: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of permissions granted to aircraft registered outside the State to transit through or land at airports here or at Casement Aerodrome while carrying weapons or munitions on board; the number of these relating to fewer than 20 weapons on a single aircraft; the number of the total relating solely to sidearms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24929/05]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The carriage of weapons or munitions on civilian aircraft, either landing or overflying, is prohibited under Irish law unless an exemption is given by the Minister for Transport. This requirement has been included in information for civilian air operators for many years. The activities of foreign military aircraft landing in or overflying Ireland are a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs, while the arrangements at Casement Aerodrome are a matter for the Minister for Defence.

The number of exemptions for foreign aircraft granted in 2005 up to Friday, 23 September, is 964. This compares with 973 for all of 2004, and 872 for all of 2003. Approximately 90% of the exemptions are for US civilian passenger aircraft carrying soldiers — the rest of the exemptions are for civilian cargo aircraft carrying munitions or weapons.

Exemptions are not classified according to the number of weapons on board. The typical application for an exemption for soldiers comes from US civilian airlines, to carry between 100 and 130 soldiers, their personal weapons, sometimes including sidearms, and sometimes ammunition in the hold.

All of the application details are sent to the following Departments for observations before the Minister issues an exemption: the Department of Foreign Affairs in relation to foreign policy; the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in relation to security; and the Irish Aviation Authority in relation to aviation safety. The Department of Defence is also informed. When any of those agencies objected to the exemption being given, the Minister has refused to grant an exemption.

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