Transport Minister must provide clarity on US use of Shannon airport
Transport Minister must provide clarity on US use of Shannon airport - The Labour Party
Responding to reports that US flights have landed in Shannon airport again this morning, Labour leader Ivana Bacik has called on Minister Darragh O’Brien to provide detail on what is going on at Shannon airport.
Deputy Bacik said:
“It is unconscionable that an Irish airport could be used as an instrument to violate human rights. With reports that the US is using Shannon airport as a deportation stop off, I am calling on the Transport Minister to clarify in detail just what is going on.
“If the Irish Government is aware of the US’s use of Shannon airport to effectively expel migrants, it represents this Government’s continued complicity in the aggressive and illegal migration policies being pursued by the Trump administration.
“I am also deeply concerned that the Government is continuing to allow planes to refuel at Shannon or fly through Irish airspace en route to deliver weapons of genocide to Israel.
“To date, the Government has shown an astounding lack of curiosity on the matter. In his reply to my Question in the Dáil on Thursday on this matter, the Tánaiste was somewhat technical, and failed to signal that there would be any clarification of the Government’s position on the US use of Shannon.
“In recent years, there has been a barrage of revelations about what is passing through our airspace. Yet the Government continue to turn a blind eye.
“Do we know if armed guards are on board the deportation flight that landed here today? What exactly is happening at Shannon? Why are we allowing US planes tied to illegal deportations and illegal wars to refuel on Irish soil?
“Minister Darragh O’Brien needs to let the Irish people know what is happening in Shannon airport. The disinterest shown by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on this to date is simply not good enough. We must be serious about our foreign policy.”