Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the protocol for receiving visits from foreign heads of State; if this protocol was followed in the case of the recent visit by US President Mr. George Bush to Shannon Airport; and when he or his Department was notified that the US President intended to disembark from Airforce One and meet US troops in Shannon Airport. [9854/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There are a number of protocols which are followed in relation to State and official visits to Ireland by foreign Heads of State. However, it should be noted that President Bush was not in Ireland on a State or official visit. As I have said in reply to a question earlier in the week, permission for President Bush's aircraft to land was granted by my Department in accordance with the normal procedures.

President Bush's meeting with US military personnel at the airport appears to have been a spontaneous act. Such personnel were, of course, in transit as part of a multinational force authorised by the United Nations Security Council. Permission for this meeting was not required.