Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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731. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the gardaí that were on duty at Shannon Airport on 25 April 2017 took steps to ascertain if two aircraft (details supplied) were fully in compliance with conditions related to permission to land in view of the fact that these two aircraft were en route from a US airbase in the USA to a war zone in the Middle East when they were refuelled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26942/17]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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829. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the statistics for members of An Garda Síochána or airport police entering aircraft to verify that no renditions were taking place in accordance with our obligations under UNCAT in each of the years 2002 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [28181/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 731 and 829 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the general position in respect of the powers of search available to An Garda Síochána in respect of aircraft have been set out for the House on many occasions previously. An Garda Síochána has statutory powers of search and entry available to it under various legislative provisions and these apply to civil aircraft as much as to any other type of private property. However, these powers may only be exercised in circumstances where a member of An Garda Síochána reasonably suspects that an offence has been or is being committed. Of course, these powers must at all times be exercised in accordance with law.

In accordance with international practice, foreign military aircraft which are granted permission to land in Ireland are not subject to inspection. Sovereign immunity, a long-standing principle of customary international law, means that a State may not exercise its jurisdiction in respect of another State or its property, including State or military aircraft.

In respect of the statistical information sought by the Deputy, which covers a very wide time frame, I have sought a report from the Garda Authorities and I will correspond directly with the Deputy when the information is to hand.