Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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55. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps taken to ensure that neither of two US military aircraft (details supplied) were on intelligence gathering missions, in contravention of Irish Government prohibitions, on 11, 12 and 15 February 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8768/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Permission for foreign military aircraft to overfly or land in the state is subject to strict conditions, under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952.

This includes stipulations 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 conducted in compliance with Ireland’s policy of military neutrality.

The flights in question were deemed to be in accordance with these stringent conditions that my Department demands and I am satisfied that the correct diplomatic clearance procedures for foreign military landings were followed in full.