Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1164. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether a military air display from the United States military is appropriate for any sporting event; the role his Department played in granting permission for this air display over Croke Park, Dublin, on 30 August 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34054/14]

Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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1201. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether the decision to permit the entry of the United States military to the State's airspace on 30 August 2014 for the purposes of an air display at a sporting event compromises the Government's position of military non-alignment. [34056/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1164 and 1201 together.

Permission was sought for two US aircraft to fly over Croke Park in the context of the opening ceremonies on 30 August for the 2014 Croke Park Classic. This event gave a significant boost to tourism and provided a unique opportunity to showcase Ireland and encourage trade, investment and closer business collaboration between Ireland and Florida and Pennsylvania and, in turn, support jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.

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. The procedure for dealing with all requests of this nature is that the Embassy of the country in question submits a request for permission to my Department.

As part of the decision-making process the Department circulates these requests to relevant government Departments and agencies; input received is reflected in the responses issued by my Department. In this case, the US Embassy submitted a diplomatic note to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade seeking approval for the two aircraft to enter Irish airspace in the context of the Croke Park Classic opening ceremonies. The request was processed in accordance with these established procedures. In addition, my Department also consulted with the Gaelic Athletic Association.

The request was approved subject to a number of conditions which were outlined in the reply that issued to the Embassy. Clearance was granted on the basis that the aircraft would carry no arms, ammunition or explosives, would not engage in intelligence gathering and would not form part of any military exercise or operation.

Officials separately informed the Embassy of a number of technical and operational matters which had been brought to the Department’s attention by the Irish Aviation Authority and they directed the Embassy to contact the Safety Regulator of the Irish Aviation Authority to follow up on the technical arrangements for the flyover.

The decision to grant permission for this flyover is consistent with past practice. Permission for this category of aircraft to enter Irish airspace has previously been granted with a view to facilitating their participation in public events such as airshows.

I am satisfied that the circumstances and conditions under which permission was granted were appropriate in the context of the Croke Park Classic opening ceremonies and did not in any way compromise Ireland’s policy of military neutrality.