Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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162. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that US soldiers carry their rifles while on board planes using Shannon Airport; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a US Air Force plane which landed at Shannon Airport was equipped with a 30 mm cannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13612/14]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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163. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if on the 5 and 6 of September 2013, an AC-130W Hercules turbo-prop aircraft, attached to the United States Air Force 73rd Special Operations Squadron landed at Shannon on the 5 September 2013 and departed the following day; if the aircraft was searched and carrying a 30mm modified MK-44 cannon located low on the front of the fuselage in front of the wings which photographs taken at Shannon Airport seem to indicate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14126/14]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. I propose to take questions 162 and 163 together. Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, the carriage of weapons through Shannon Airport on commercial aircraft is prohibited unless an exemption has been obtained in advance from my colleague, the Minister for Transport. The carriage of the personal weapons of US military personnel on board chartered aircraft in transit through Shannon Airport is subject to the issuance of such an exemption in respect to each individual flight.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. Permission to land at Irish airports, including Shannon Airport, is granted by my Department subject to the condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, do not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or operation.

As I indicated in this House on 15 October 2013, I am aware that one US military aircraft landed in Shannon Airport in September 2013 armed with a fixed weapon. I am not in a position to provide further information on the aircraft in question. The aircraft did not comply with the policy conditions set out above, a matter which the Government views with the utmost concern. The case in question was raised at the highest possible level with the US Embassy. The Embassy official expressed regret at this isolated incident, explained that it was due to an administrative error and provided assurances that steps have been taken by the US authorities to ensure that there is no recurrence.