Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of US soldiers who have stopped off at Shannon en route to Afghanistan or Iraq for each year since the US conflict began with these countries; the number who have stopped off at Shannon returning to the USA for each year since the conflict began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22188/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Civilian air carriers carrying weapons or munitions, wishing to land in or over-fly Irish airspace are obliged to seek exemption from the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973. This Order applies only to the carriage of munitions of war, weapons and dangerous goods and not to military personnel. Therefore my Department does not collate information with regard to the number of military troops onboard civilian aircraft. Accordingly my Department does not have figures on the final destination of US soldiers on aircraft that have stopped at Shannon Airport, whether on eastbound or westbound flights.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of countries which have used Shannon for transporting military equipment in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22189/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The activities of foreign military aircraft landing in or overflying Ireland are a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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. Civilian air carriers carrying weapons or munitions, wishing to land or over-fly Irish airspace are obliged to seek exemption from the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973.

The applications received by my Department from civilian air carriers identify the airports preceding and following the aircraft's arrival in Shannon.

The vast majority of the applications involve flights to or from the United States. Exemptions have also been given to aircraft from Canada, Israel and the U.K.