Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to change existing arrangements between his Department and the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Defence in respect of the monitoring of foreign military aircraft on Irish territory in order to ensure our neutrality is not breached. [2660/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to overfly or land in the State. Requests for permission are considered in consultation with relevant Government Departments and agencies, including the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Defence, and procedures relating to these requests are kept under review.

In cases where permission is granted, this is subject to strict conditions including that 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.

I am satisfied that these longstanding arrangements are fully consistent with Ireland’s policies and legal requirements, including our long-established policy of military neutrality.