Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 May 2026
40. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the under-reporting of almost 250 more US military aircraft flights over Ireland, which went unreported due to an ‘administrative error’; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38385/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 fully understood by the United States and other international partners.
Each month, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade collects and publishes statistics detailing foreign military aircraft overflights in Irish airspace and landings in Ireland.
The Department has expressed its regret that, due to an administrative error, figures relating to US overflights for the period from September 2025 to March 2026 had been misreported on the Department’s website. The figures have now been revised and I have been briefed on the matter by my officials. Upon my instruction, officials in my Department have revised the system for the preparation and publication of these statistics.
