Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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727. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Government and-or the Garda Commissioner has instructed gardaí at Shannon not to search US military aircraft, or chartered aircraft transporting US troops, or aircraft associated with the US Central Intelligence Agency; and if this instruction has been revised in view of the refuelling of a US military aircraft with a fixed weapon. [45630/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy may wish to note that operational matters pertaining to policing are a matter for the Garda Commissioner and accordingly the question of the Government issuing instructions of the kind referred to by the Deputy does not arise. In that context, the Garda Síochána remain fully committed to investigate all alleged breaches of the criminal law, including alleged offences involving the use of aircraft at Shannon Airport or other Irish airports. The Garda Síochána has statutory powers of search and entry available to it under various legislative provisions and these apply to aircraft as much as to any other type of private property. However, these powers may only be exercised in circumstances where a member of the Garda Síochána reasonably suspects that an offence has been or is being committed.

It is the case that the Garda Síochána has previously fully investigated a number of allegations of unlawful activity at Irish airports and files have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecution in some of these cases, although no prosecution was directed. In the other cases no evidence to substantiate the allegations was disclosed. I would point out, for the sake of clarity, that the Garda Síochána has no role in relation to the inspection of foreign State or military aircraft which, in accordance with international law, enjoy sovereign immunity.