Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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56.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if a US Navy Hercules KC130T (details supplied) was searched or investigated while at Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35149/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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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 full compliance with Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.

With respect to the aircraft in question, I am satisfied that the correct diplomatic clearance procedure for foreign military landings with respect to the aircraft in question, was followed in full.

As the Deputy is aware, foreign military aircraft which are given permission to land in Ireland are not subject to inspection in this regard. Sovereign immunity, a long-standing principle of customary international law, means that a state may not exercise its jurisdiction in respect to another state or its property, including state and 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.