Arms ban lifted on some flights

Opposition parties have urged the Government to clarify its policy on the use of Shannon Airport by US military aircraft following confirmation that it has recently lifted a ban on arms transportation on certain flights.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said yesterday that the Minister, Mr Brennan, had in recent weeks exempted "some" civilian aircraft from a prohibition on the transit of weapons or munitions under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973.

However, she said she had no details on the number of exemptions granted, or the nature of "munitions", if any, carried.

The Labour Party's transport spokeswoman, Ms Róisín Shortall, called on the Taoiseach to make a "clear statement" on the matter. She said Mr Brennan's decision to waive the Order "flies in the face of earlier statements from Government on this issue".

The Green Party's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr John Gormley, also criticised the move. "To have signed such an authorisation, to have done it so furtively, and for an Irish Government to so cravenly make the facilities of Shannon Airport so freely available, shows this is a Government that cares not one whit about Irish neutrality," he said.

A number of Independent TDs are to seek a debate on the issue in the Dáil this week. A motion, drafted by Mr Tony Gregory and Mr Joe Higgins and calling for the immediate withdrawal from US forces of permission to use Irish airport facilities, is due to be tabled on Wednesday.

Mr Higgins said he expected the motion would be supported by Sinn Féin and the Greens.

Mr Gormley, meanwhile, remarked that his party intended to "evoke a torrent of criticism on this underhand and shabby way the Government has allowed Shannon to become a 'warport'".

The Government has repeatedly insisted that arrangements at Shannon are in compliance with the law. The use of Irish airspace by foreign military aircraft is sanctioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs, while the Department of Transport regulates civilian aircraft carrying military personnel or munitions.

The latter said it administered the Order "taking account of the policy established by the Minister for Foreign Affairs as well as aviation safety considerations."

It added there were "relatively few" requests from civilian airlines last year to carry arms or munitions, with one landing request and 30 overflight requests.