Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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329. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to reports that an airline (details supplied) was used to ferry arms during the conflict in Tigray in view of the recent awarding of a licence to the airline; the checks that will be in place to ensure that such activities are not engaged in the State’s airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50677/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the media reports to which the Deputy’s question refers.

The 1944 Chicago Convention is the main treaty governing international civil aviation. Ireland, Ethiopia, and Eritrea are all parties to this Convention.

Article 35 of the Convention relates to the carriage of munitions of war or implements of war on civil aircraft engaged in international navigation. Under this article, such carriage is prohibited unless permission to do so has been provided by the States concerned.

In Ireland, regulation of the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft is provided for in the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders, 1973 and 1989. Under these orders, the carriage of munitions of war is prohibited on any civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory/airspace and on Irish registered civil aircraft, wherever they may be, unless an exemption for such carriage is granted by the Minister for Transport. In determining whether or not to grant such an exemption, my Department consults with both the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice should there be any foreign policy or security concerns.

Commercial air transport authorisations issued by my Department, including those received by Ethiopian Airlines, detail the obligation on those air operators requiring such an authorisation to comply with the 1973 and 1989 Orders should they intend to carry munitions of war.