Labour calls for action on Shannon oversight
Labour calls for action on Shannon oversight - The Labour Party
Labour’s Conor Sheehan TD has today called on Government to urgently introduce legislation to allow for routine and random physical inspections of aircraft at Shannon Airport, following a written parliamentary question which confirmed that no such regime is planned, no inspections take place unless suspicion already exists, and no new legislation is being progressed, despite the ongoing use of Shannon Airport by the US military.
Deputy Conor Sheehan said:
“The response to my parliamentary question is troubling. The Minister has effectively confirmed that inspections only occur if there is already an appearance of wrongdoing, while simultaneously stating that no such suspicion has ever arisen. That is not oversight. That is blind trust, and blind trust cannot be the basis for policy.
“What Government is saying, in plain terms, is that Ireland has no system of independent, routine or random physical inspections of aircraft landing at Shannon, even though the airport plays a well documented role in facilitating US military movements. We only look if we already believe something is wrong, and we have never allowed ourselves to look closely enough to form that belief. That circular logic would not pass muster in any serious regulatory system and it should not be acceptable here.
“The international context matters. What we are witnessing in the United States and across the world is a profound shift in the global order. Against that backdrop, it is extraordinary that Ireland still lacks a clear legislative framework to allow independent inspections at Shannon Airport. Relying on a suspicion threshold that is never met because inspections do not happen is not neutrality, it is negligence.
“The Minister’s reply confirms that no decision has been taken to introduce legislation to allow for routine or random inspections. That is a political choice. The call from Labour is clear. Government must bring forward legislation to allow for routine and random inspections of aircraft at Shannon Airport. This needs to happen now, not at some undefined point in the future.”
For Written Answer on : 22/01/2026
Question Number(s): 286 Question Reference(s): 5211/26
Department: Transport
Asked by: Conor Sheehan T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Transport when legislation will be introduced so that a regime of routine or random physical inspections of aircraft landing in Ireland can be introduced particularly in relation to the use of Shannon airport by the US military – Conor Sheehan.
REPLY
My Department has responsibility for civil aircraft only, my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee is responsible for matters relating to military aircraft.
Article 8 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989 empowers the Minster for Transport to carry out an inspection of civil aircraft flying from any place within the State. The exercise of this power is conditional on there being an appearance, to the Minster for Transport of an intention or likelihood that the civil aircraft concerned is to fly in such circumstances that would be in contravention of the 1973 and 1989 orders. To date, such an appearance of intention or likelihood of contravention has not occurred.
No decision has been taken on the introduction of legislation as referenced by the Deputy.