Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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420. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 617 of 20 January 2015 the reason his Department gave for refusing each of the 19 permits under the Air Navigation Carriage of Munitions of War Weapons and Dangerous Goods Order 1973 and the countries from which the refusals were given. [3946/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The regulation of civilian aircraft is governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention)which came into force on 4 April 1947. Ireland’s rights and obligations under the Convention have been incorporated into Irish law through the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946, as amended. The legislation provides that the Minister for Transport has primary responsibility for the regulation of civilian aircraft, including chartered flights.

Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, as amended in 1989, civilian aircraft are prohibited from carrying weapons or munitions through Irish airspace and airports unless an exemption has been obtained in advance from the Minister for Transport.

In considering the requests made by commercial carriers for exemptions, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport seeks the advice of relevant Government Departments and agencies. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is consulted in relation to any foreign policy issues which may arise.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reviews the applications forwarded by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and, based on the information available, provides observations to that Department. While it is not the practice to comment on individual applications, I can advise that the recommendations made against applications for exemptions in 2014 related in the majority of cases to munitions that are non-discriminatory in their effects. However, the decision to authorise or refuse applications for exemptions is a matter for the Minster for Transport, Tourism and Sport.