Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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338. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the circumstances concerning an aircraft (details supplied) that arrived at Shannon Airport on 8 February 2021; the number of passengers and crew members who were travelling on the aircraft; the local hotels in which the passengers and crew were accommodated overnight; if Covid-19 tests were carried out in respect of these passengers and crew before they were allowed to enter Shannon Airport and to enter Ireland; the checks that were carried out to ascertain if weapons or munitions were being carried on the aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8304/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The landing in question was by a US military aircraft, with seven crew and no passengers on board. It had sought and received prior diplomatic clearance to land subject to our routine stipulations, including that it did not carry arms or ammunition. The US authorities have confirmed that this condition was met.

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. This principle applies automatically to foreign State or military aircraft in the same way that it applies to Irish State or military aircraft abroad.

In terms of public health measures, I note that Statutory Instrument 44/2021 was the applicable regulation on that date and that, as set out in that Instrument, exempted travellers include "an aircraft pilot, other aircrew, maritime master or maritime crew who arrives in the State in the course of performing his or her duties.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs is not involved in and does not comment on accommodation arrangements for US military or official personnel transiting through Shannon.