Written answers
Monday, 9 September 2024
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Military Aircraft
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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32.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he gave approval for the flyover over Dublin of three US military Osprey aircraft on 26 August 2022; whether his Department carried out a safety assessment in advance of this flyover; if such approvals will be reviewed considering subsequent high-profile fatal crashes involving similar Osprey aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34296/24]
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 of Foreign Affairs.
Permission for foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft, to fly over Ireland or land at Irish airports, is governed by 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.
It is the longstanding policy of the Department of Foreign Affairs not to disclose details relating to these requests, as such information is provided by Embassies in the expectation of the maintenance of confidentiality. However, I can confirm that three US military Osprey aircraft were granted diplomatic clearance to enter Irish sovereign airspace and land in Ireland in late August 2023, and that the conditions above were met in full in each case. This information is provided on the basis that it was to August 2023 that the Deputy intended to refer to in his question.
Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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33.To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if approval has been sought for a US military aircraft flyover over Dublin in conjunction with US college football matches to be played on 23, 24 and 28 August 2024; the procedure for dealing with such requests; whether a safety assessment forms part of such procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34297/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Foreign Affairs did not receive any requests for foreign military aircraft to fly over Dublin in conjunction with the College Football Classic in August 2024.
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 of 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.
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