Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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14. To ask the Minister for Defence if the Irish air force has any capability to monitor or communicate with foreign military aircraft flying through Irish airspace, including aircraft that have their transponders switched off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6879/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) exercises Air Traffic Control responsibilities for an airspace of some 450,000 sq. kms comprising of both sovereign airspace and also airspace over the high seas, largely off the western seaboard. These latter responsibilities for airspace over the high seas are exercised under assignment from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). All air traffic, both civil and military, is monitored and controlled by the IAA in respect of this airspace in accordance with the ICAO’s safety objectives for civil aviation.

In line with ICAO rules it is normal practice for the IAA to be informed by the relevant State of any military flights operating in Irish controlled airspace.

On a routine basis, the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, where air traffic control is provided by the Defence Forces. However, the Air Corps is not tasked or equipped to monitor and communicate with military aircraft overflying Irish airspace irrespective of whether the transponder is switched on or not. This position is in accordance with the Air Corps’ roles as set out in the White Paper for Defence (2000).

The Deputy may wish to note that, under the legislative requirements of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all military aircraft require the permission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to overfly or land in the State.