Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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42. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of occasions that aid to civil power functions were carried out by Defence Forces personnel at Shannon airport, Dublin airport and Cork airport, in respect of the protection of US military aircraft, and any other reason for each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date; and the nature of the arrangement when foreign military aircraft land at Casement Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39707/16]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.

The number of occasions that the aid to civil power functions were carried out by Defence Forces personnel at Shannon airport, Dublin airport and Cork airport, in relation to the protection of US military aircraft for each of the years 2011 to date in 2016 is as follows:

With regard to Casement Aerodrome, in accordance with the legislative requirements of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly or land in the State require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. A request is received by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from the relevant embassy of the visiting/overflying foreign aircraft. This request is then forwarded to a number of parties including the Department of Defence and the Department of Justice and Equality for observations and confirmation that the aircraft can be facilitated for landing at Casement Aerodrome.