Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on whether it is appropriate for the vice-president of the United States to address US military troops in Shannon Airport in view of the fact that Ireland is a neutral country and the US military involvement in the war in Iraq. [21705/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The arrangements in place regarding the use of Shannon by the US military are long-standing arrangements which have been in place for decades and are not specific to the current situation in relation to Iraq. The Deputy will be aware that a resolution to continue to make the Shannon facilities available was approved by the Dáil in March 2003. I would further point out that the present US military involvement in Iraq is as part of the Multinational Force authorised under UN Security Council Resolution 1511 and for which the Security Council reaffirmed its support in Resolution 1546 of 8 June 2004.

The aircraft carrying US Vice-President Joseph Biden landed in Shannon on the evening of 18 May 2009 in order to refuel. Vice President Biden was en-route from Andrews Air Force base to Sarajevo. Permission for the aircraft to land at Shannon airport was granted in accordance with the normal procedures.

I understand that during his stopover the Vice-President met with and spoke to a number of US military personnel in transit at the time. This appears to have arisen spontaneously. It has no implications whatsoever for Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality.