Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will extend the scope of the review he has initiated into the carriage of munitions and dangerous goods, on foot of the incident in February 2006 in which a US plane claimed to have no cargo when in fact there was an attack helicopter on board, to include the carriage of prisoners and detainees. [16835/06]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will extend the scope of the review he has initiated into the carriage of munitions and dangerous goods to include questions relating to the countries of origin and destination of such goods in view of the incident in February 2006 in which this State appears to have facilitated the sale of an attack helicopter to Israel and thereby further implicated itself in gross human rights abuses. [16836/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Parliamentary Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together.

The review I have initiated will deal with all aspects of the procedures relating to the carriage of munitions and weapons. 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 Guantánamo 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.

In view of assurances referred to above the review will not deal with transit of prisoners.