Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Transport if preclearance facilities are now fully operational at Shannon Airport; the security measures that are in place to monitor private aircraft using the preclearance facilities; when they will also be fully operational at Dublin Airport; his views on the introduction of body scanners at airports here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6435/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Operational decisions about the use of preclearance facilities are a matter for the Airport Authority, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the airlines concerned. In the case of Shannon Airport, I understand from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) that the US Preclearance facility for commercial aviation at Shannon Airport has been fully operational since 5 August 2009 and that a number of commercial airlines operating from Shannon have used the facility since then. The next phase of preclearance at Shannon is to extend its use to private aviation traffic. The necessary infrastructure is in place and my Department, in conjunction with the Shannon Airport Authority, is working closely with the U.S. authorities on all relevant aspects, including security measures, with a view to having this phase of preclearance operational as quickly as possible.

The preclearance facility will be provided in Terminal Two at Dublin Airport and is due to commence operations when the terminal opens in November 2010. In relation to the issue of body scanners, I refer the Deputy to my answer to question no. 179 on 4 February last.