Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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134. To ask the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 20 of 7 May 2014, about the USS Leyte Gulf cruiser being docked in Cobh, if the ship was searched; and if not, how do they know it was not armed. [21709/14]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the ship in question was not searched. As outlined in the answer provided to the Parliamentary Question referred to, foreign naval vessels are granted permission to visit Irish ports on condition that assurances have been received from the Embassy of the country concerned that they meet the necessary policy conditions, which require that the vessels are not carrying nuclear weapons and are not engaged in a naval exercise.

The principle of sovereign immunity applies to foreign naval vessels. In accordance with international law and practice, naval vessels which are docked in Ireland with the permission of the Government are not subject to searches or inspections.