Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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72. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to stop flights carrying weapons through Irish airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22720/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Chicago Convention 1944 is the main international treaty governing the operation of international civil aviation. Article 35 of this convention provides that no civil aircraft may carry munitions of war in the sovereign territory of a state without that state’s permission.

This provision is implemented in Irish law 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, unless an exemption to do so is granted by the Minister for Transport.

In considering applications for exemptions, the Department of Transport consults with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice to determine if there are any foreign policy or security issues that need to be considered in the context of the application. The Department of Defence is also informed of all applications.

This process is long-standing and robust. Advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs is in respect of international humanitarian law, Ireland’s international obligations and our wider arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation policy.

The Irish Aviation Authority, the state agency with responsibility for regulating the carriage of dangerous goods by air, is consulted on any applications for an exemption to permit the carriage of munitions of war also classified as dangerous goods, such as ammunition.

It is only after this consultation period that my officials will seek my decision on whether to grant or refuse the exemption, though they will provide a recommendation.

Should there be an appearance of intention or likelihood that a civil aircraft will depart from a location in the State in a manner that contravenes the 1973 and 1989 orders, then the Minster for Transport is empowered to carry out an inspection of that aircraft.

To date, there has been no such appearance and insofar as it can be determined there is no record of an inspection conducted pursuant to the 1973 and 1989 orders.

Ireland's legislative requirements in respect of the carriage of munitions of war are set out in the internationally standardised Integrated Aeronautical Information Package (IAIP) ,. Additionally, my Department has previously arranged for the promulgation of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) the purpose of which was to remind all carriers of our legislative requirements.