Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe said the “vast majority” of exemptions granted for transporting weapons and war munitions through the State relate to the US military.

However, he said concerns regarding “alleged extraordinary rendition” flights were not in his remit and had been dealt with through continual assurances given to the State by the US government.

Mr Donohoe was addressing the Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions, which has been asked to consider an investigation into the US military's use of Shannon Airport and Irish airspace.

The Minister said his role was “limited” although his department was responsible for issuing exemptions to those seeking to transport “weapons and munitions of war” on civil aircraft. “The vast majority of the exemptions granted under [Irish law] relate to munitions of war belonging to US military,” he said.

International practice

“Usual international practice is that such troops travel with their personal weapons. The weapons are unloaded and no ammunition is on board the flights.”

Committee chairman Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said an estimated 2.3 million troops have come through Shannon. “All of them would have side-arms and we assume rifles,” he said.

Challenged on the issue of Irish neutrality and how military use of the airport could be reconciled with it, Mr Donohoe said this was primarily an issue for the Department of Foreign Affairs. “I strongly believe that the way in which we regulate these matters is consistent with our neutrality,” he added.

The Minister was also questioned on the contentious subject of alleged extraordinary rendition of prisoners through Irish facilities and repeated that US government assurances no such operations were conducted here were satisfactory.

“Rendition is illegal. It is an illegal detention of a person and as I have said . . . we have received assurances that it’s not taking place in our territory,” he said.