Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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56. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his Department is carrying out checks at Shannon Airport on US military vehicles which are stopping off enroute to Israel and other jurisdictions; if so, the number that have taken place in the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50300/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 81 together.

I have addressed the wider issues relating to Ireland’s approach to the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory on frequent occasions over recent weeks so I will focus my response on issues relating to diplomatic clearance for military aircraft.

Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.

This policy is well known and is fully understood by the United States and other international partners, and is done in compliance with Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.

With regard to the transit of US military aircraft through Shannon and other Irish airports, the Department of Foreign Affairs publishes statistics in relation to overflights and landings of foreign military and state aircraft on the Department’s website. This includes details on the number of US military aircraft that have landed in Shannon airport this year.

My Department is committed to the highest standards of transparency and, as such, will continue to publish details relating to overflights and landings on a monthly basis on the Department’s website, as well as working to compile and publish historic data relating to overflights and landing of foreign military aircraft where and when possible.