Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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355. To ask the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied with existing arrangements between his Department and the Departments of Justice and Equality and Foreign Affairs and Trade regarding the presence of foreign military aircraft on Irish territory; his plans to recommend a more active role for Defence Forces personnel in protecting our neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1319/15]

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. I understand from my colleague the 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 foreign 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. Separately, there is ongoing liaison between my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality regarding security matters generally. This includes such matters as the Defence Forces deployments to Shannon Air port that occur in response to Aid to the Civil Power requests for support from An Garda Síochána who have primary responsibility for the protection of the internal security of the State.

I am satisfied with existing arrangements and I have no plans to recommend a more active role for the Defence Forces.