Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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528. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to explain the basis upon which permission was given for a US Marine Corps warplane to refuel at Shannon Airport on the evening of 23 May 2016, given that there is no conceivable reason for its presence except that it was there as part of a military operation, and it is also inconceivable that this aircraft was not carrying weapons and munitions, at the very least the personal arms of the crew and its military passengers. [12770/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland.

Permission must be sought in advance for landings by all foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft, and if granted, is subject to 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.

The Shannon Airport Authority has confirmed that three US military aircraft landed at Shannon Airport on 23 May. I can further confirm that my Department granted permission in each case, subject to the strict conditions which I have outlined above.

My Department is satisfied that the US is fully aware of the need to comply with these strict conditions.