Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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208. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of times the Irish Aviation Authority was informed of military exercises by foreign military or naval services affecting Irish-controlled airspace in the past three years; and the countries involved. [11223/23]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), as the State's Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), is the body responsible for the provision of air navigation and air traffic management services in Irish controlled airspace. This includes airspace designated to the Irish State by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, known as the Shannon Flight Information Region, and also an area of the North Atlantic which the IAA administers jointly with the United Kingdom, known as the Shanwick Oceanic Region.

When military activities are planned that have an aviation element, the State carrying out the exercise must follow the agreed international procedure, as set down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. This involves notifying the State responsible for the portion of airspace that will be affected, with the ANSP, in this instance the IAA, then following the agreed procedure to notify aircraft and restrict access to the area in question, in order to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft.

Accordingly, I have referred this question to the IAA for direct reply. The Deputy should inform my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.