Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his permission was sought for a stop-over of Israeli war planes in Shannon Airport recently; if so, his views on same; if not, his views on the presence of such planes in an Irish civilian airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18505/06]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Israeli warplanes recently stopped over in Shannon Airport; his views on such an event in the context of Irish neutrality and of the Government's position with regard to the occupation of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18411/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 254 and 260 together.

At the outset, I would point out to the House that the two aircraft in question — both Boeing 707s — are not warplanes. On 28 April 2006, the Department of Foreign Affairs having, in accordance with standard practice, consulted with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, gave permission for two Boeing 707 aircraft operated by the Israeli Air Force to land at Shannon Airport on 5 May. The landing permission for these two aircraft was granted subject to the normal conditions that apply to landings at Irish airports by foreign military aircraft; namely, that the aircraft would be unarmed, would carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, would not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question would not form any part of military exercises or operations. The practice of permitting landings by foreign military aircraft at Irish airports, subject to such conditions, has been in place for more than fifty years, and has no bearing whatsoever on Ireland's policy of military neutrality.

The search for a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been a central concern of Irish foreign policy, under successive Governments. The Government and its partners in the EU firmly believe that the only route to a just and lasting settlement is through the negotiation of a mutually acceptable two-state solution. This must lead to the coexistence of two viable, sovereign and independent states with agreed international borders. We will continue to work to promote an environment for negotiation, despite the obstacles which are so obvious at this point. We will also continue to raise directly with the Israeli Government our concerns on Israeli policies and activities in the Occupied Territories, which are contrary to international law and which threaten to undermine a viable two-State solution.