Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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314. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if permission was sought and if he granted it for two four-engine military planes to land at Ireland West Regional Airport on 20 June 2016; his views regarding their presence at the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17951/16]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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315. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if permission was sought and if he granted it for a military plane (details supplied) to be present at Ireland West Regional Airport on 20 June 2016; his views regarding its presence at the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17954/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together.

To facilitate arrangements for the US Vice President’s visit to the Mayo area, permission was sought for two unarmed US military transport aircraft, type C-17A, to land at Ireland West Airport Knock on 20 June 2016. The aircraft were carrying passenger vehicles in support of the visit.

The requests stated that the aircraft were unarmed, carried no arms, ammunition or explosives and that they would not engage in intelligence gathering. The requests also stated that the flights did not form part of any military operation or exercises. Permission for the landings was granted subject to these conditions.

The visit of Vice President Biden and other high level visits help to promote Ireland’s interests internationally and contribute to the development of strong economic, political and cultural links.