Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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22. To ask the Minister for Defence the steps taken by the Irish Defence Forces, and in particular the Air Corps in monitoring US military aircraft while on Irish territory and in Irish air space to ensure that they comply with Irish neutrality regulations. [41266/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland rests with the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade in accordance with the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952. The Air Corps do not have a monitoring role with regard to foreign military aircraft on Irish territory and in Irish air space.

I understand from my colleague, Mr. Charlie Flanagan, T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade that arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions.  These include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations.

Requests to permit the landing of military aircraft are considered by the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade on the basis of these conditions. Permission is not granted for the conduct of foreign military operations in Irish airspace.