MILITARY AIRCRAFT FROM 35 countries have landed in Shannon Airport in the last 12 months.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore confirmed the number in response to a recent parliamentary question, stating that his department is the one responsible for granting permission for landings of military planes.
He stressed that these aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering. He said the flights in question do not form any part of military exercises or operations.
The full list of countries are as follows:
The Tánaiste also told TD Clare Daly recently that he could not say whether military advisers from the US would stop at Shannon on the way to Iraq.
Gilmore said he had not sought specific assurances from the US that this would not happen but said all the usual rules will continue to apply to aircraft travelling through Shannon.
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