Civilian aircraft carrying US troops and weapons are now passing through Shannon Airport at the rate of more than two a day, according to figures released yesterday by the Department of Transport.
The Department's figures show a substantial increase in the number of such aircraft declaring that they are carrying weapons and seeking permission from the Minister for Transport to land, with 19 coming through Shannon in the eight days to January 27th.
The new figures will fuel tonight's Dáil debate on a motion, from the Green Party, Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party and Independents, calling on the Government to withdraw landing and refuelling facilities at Shannon from aircraft heading for the Persian Gulf.
The increase is believed to have followed a letter from the Department to the US and other military forces reminding them of their obligations to seek permission if they are carrying such weapons.
The Department sent the letter on January 17th amid mounting protests over the volume of military traffic passing through Shannon en route to the Gulf region. While most airliners carrying troops were believed to be carrying firearms, very few had sought the necessary permission.
Throughout 2002 just one such aircraft had sought permission to land while carrying weapons. In the week ending January 5th, no aircraft made such a request. In the week ending January 12th, two did so. In the week ending January 19th, five did so.
However in the eight days from January 20th to January 27th, 19 aircraft sought permission.
Although the Department will not reveal the nationality of such aircraft, citing security reasons, almost all of them are understood to be from the US. The weapons being carried are believed to be confined to personal firearms rather than heavier weaponry, but no information on this was available yesterday from the Government.
The January 17th letter reminded carriers that under the Air Navigation (carriage of munitions of war, weapons and dangerous goods) Order 1973, civilian airliners seeking permission to land while carrying munitions require the advance approval of the Minister for Transport.