I am directed by the Minister for Industry and Commerce to refer to the practice by which landings of foreign military aircraft in this country are authorised by this Department after consultation and agreement with your Department and the Department of Defence. Requests for permission for these landings have normally been made through diplomatic channels.

There has recently been an increasing tendency for foreign military aircraft to land at Dublin and Shannon Airports without permission having been requested through the normal diplomatic channels. Two copies are attached of a schedule showing the landings which have been made at these Airports by foreign military aircraft from March, 1948 up to the current date.¹ Those cases in which prior permission was sought and given are indicated on the schedules and the reason for each landing, where known, is also shown.

The rights of foreign military aircraft in this country are governed by Regulation No. 75 of the Air Navigation (General) Regulations 1930 (S.R.&O. 1930 No. 26). I am to suggest that action in relation to such landings is mainly a matter for your Department. It may be thought desirable to make representations in the proper British and U.S. quarters about those cases for which prior permission was not sought. On the other hand, it may be thought that a direct approach might result in requests for general sanction in respect of all landings and it may therefore be thought better to let the present position stand. The numbers of landings are not such as to give rise to concern, many of them having taken place in circumstances which precluded prior permission being sought.

I am also to refer to a recent case in which military personnel from a U.S. aircraft which landed at Shannon owing to weather conditions over the Atlantic during a flight from Great Britain to the U.S. were observed to be carrying arms. The arms, automatic pistols, were carried openly. This is the first case which has come to notice but it is thought probable that concealed arms are carried by protective personnel from time to time. The Airport Manager has sought instructions as to the procedure to be adopted by him in any future cases where arms are carried openly. It is considered that the practice is undesirable, especially at a State airport which is frequented by civil passengers of various nationalities. I am to request advice as to the procedure which should be adopted by the airport authorities in any future cases.

Copy of this minute and enclosures has been sent to the Department of Defence for information.