Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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843. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 806 of 6 April 2016, the basis for his understanding indicated. [6616/16]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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844. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 806 of 6 April 2016 and the aircraft identified, if the aircraft was on contract to the military of the United States of America on this occasion; if so, whether it, its crew or its passengers engaged in military operations or supporting military operations en route to Bagram airbase in Afghanistan; if not, why it was travelling to Afghanistan on this occasion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6617/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 843 and 844 together.

My understanding that no munitions of war were on board the aircraft in question was based on information supplied by Shannon Airport Authority and, as indicated in my previous reply, the fact that no application was made by the airline for an exemption under the 1973 Order. This was a non-scheduled flight which made a technical stop at Shannon for refuelling purposes. Under domestic law and the provisions of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation no prior notification to or prior permission from my Department is required for such flights.

My Department has since confirmed with the airline, National Air Cargo, that no munitions of war were carried on the flight in question. The airline has confirmed that the cargo was foodstuffs and that no passengers were on-board. I have no information on the airline's contracts for this flight.