Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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664. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 50 of 30 May 2017, the procedures his Department uses to grant permission for military aircraft to land in Irish territory or to fly through Irish airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26642/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Further to my predecessor’s response to parliamentary question number 50 of 30 May 2017, the procedures in my Department for considering requests for landings by foreign military aircraft focus on ensuring that the information provided with regard to the flights and aircraft demonstrate that they comply with the applicable conditions. The Embassy of the requesting State must confirm in writing that the aircraft seeking permission to land is unarmed, carries no arms, ammunition or explosives and will not engage in intelligence gathering. Furthermore, the Embassy must confirm in writing that the flights in question do not form part of military exercises or operations. As part of the procedure for considering all requests for military aircraft to land at Irish airports, my Department also seeks the views of other agencies including: An Garda Síochána, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport prior to permission being granted.

A number of countries have applied for and been granted annual blanket clearance for overflights on the same conditions that apply to landings. Under these arrangements, the Embassy of the country concerned submits a notification of each proposed flight to my Department. My Department then notifies relevant Departments and agencies.

Overflights by US military aircraft are permitted without prior notification, on the basis that the aircraft are unarmed, carry only cargo and passengers and comply with navigational requirements. Where overflights by US military aircraft do not comply with these arrangements advance permission must be sought in respect of each overflight. The US Embassy provides my Department with post hoc monthly returns on the total number of overflights and the types of aircraft involved.