Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
269. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps she will take to inspect US military aircraft landing in Ireland to verify the veracity of their manifest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1333/26]
View answer270. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of US military aircraft that landed in Ireland in 2023, 2024 and 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1334/26]
View answer271. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of US military aircraft, that have landed in Ireland 2023, 2024 and 2025, that have been inspected in any way by her Department, or any Irish official; if she will give details of any such inspection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1336/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 269 to 271, inclusive, together.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publishes monthly statistics in relation to overflights and landings of foreign military and state aircraft on the gov.ie website. The current information on the website covers the period from 2015 until December 2025. The information sought by the Deputy is included in this information on the gov.ie website. My Department will continue to publish details relating to overflights and landings on a monthly basis.
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.
