Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Shannon airport was used in February 2006 to facilitate the sale of attack helicopters between the US and Israel in an act that breached the terms under which the landing of the US plane was sanctioned; the steps that will be taken to ensure there will be no repeat occurrences; his views on whether the incident demonstrates the grave inadequacy of US assurances about rendition flights and the need to take active measures to ensure against Ireland's complicity in human rights abuses including making landing permission for US planes subject to provisions allowing random searches by the Garda Síochána. [15328/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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On 20 February 2006, Antonov RA 82044, operated by Volga DNEPR, landed at Shannon, for a technical stop, flight originating from Russia, en route to Venezuela. The Department received 'notification only' that the flight of aircraft RA 82044 was landing at Shannon.

Under international aviation rules aircraft making technical stops do not need an authorisation. In Ireland, however, permission is required if munitions are being carried. In the notification the firm in question indicated that "no dangerous goods or munitions will be carried on board".

The Department of Transport was notified on 10 February 2006 that the flight on 20 February of aircraft RA 82044 would be landing at Shannon. In the course of inquiries regarding this case the Department became aware that the aircraft was carrying military helicopters.

In the light of this I have initiated a review of the carriage of munitions and dangerous goods and my Department will consult with Departments and relevant groups as part of this review. The Department of Transport is responsible for authorisation of civil aircraft carrying weapons or munitions of war into or over Ireland. Before issuing an exemption, the Department of Transport consults: the Department of Foreign Affairs, in respect of foreign policy; the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform regarding security and the Irish Aviation Authority, regarding aviation safety, and also informs the Department of Defence.

When any of those agencies has objected to an exemption being given, then an exemption has been refused. The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for regulating the activities of foreign military aircraft landing in, or over-flying Ireland.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Transport the destinations of registered aircraft N313P, N379P and N8068V that landed at Shannon airport on 29 October 2003, 18 January 2003 and 18 May 2004 respectively; if they were searched; the person who authorised the flights; if there were suspicions; the actions which were taken since to ensure no national or international laws were breached; and if they will be impounded for forensics if they appear at Shannon again. [15329/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The destination for these flights was the USA. In accordance with the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, aircraft may come into Ireland for technical stops such as for refuelling purposes, without notifying the Department of Transport. The landings at Shannon on the above dates were technical stops. Accordingly no authorisations were required. The other issues referred to in the question are matters for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.