Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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136. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade why a Boeing C-32B aircraft of the air force of the United States of America special forces, registration number 02-4452, was in Shannon Airport, County Clare, on 25 May 2016; if he granted permission for it to land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13966/16]

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.

My Department approved a request to permit a US military C-32B aircraft to land at Shannon Airport on 25 May 2016 for re-fuelling, subject to the strict conditions set out above.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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137. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade why a C-21A aircraft of the air force of the United States of America, registration 84-0072, was in Shannon Airport, County Clare, on 25 May 2016; if he granted permission for it to land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13967/16]

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.

My Department approved a request to permit a US military C-21A aircraft to land at Shannon Airport on 24 May 2016 for the purpose of crew rest, subject to the strict conditions set out above.