Government to OK air marshals on US flights

THE Government is likely to give the green light to a US demand for armed air marshals aboard flights from here to America.

Ireland is expected to be one of just a handful of EU countries that will agree to the controversial US request.

The US Office of Homeland Security (OHS) issued a demand to all foreign countries last December that armed air marshals must be on board US-bound flights.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is due to bring the issue to the Cabinet in the next few weeks after he receives an expert security evaluation of the proposal.

The National Security Aviation Committee is currently finishing its report for the minister, laying out the pros and cons of such a move.

The committee is chaired by the Department of Transport, but also contains officials from the departments of justice and defence as well as senior gardaí, army officers, the Irish Aviation Authority and airport representatives.

“The Government’s preferred option is not to have sky marshals, but given the Government’s position in relation to American requests, it’s unlikely we’ll say no,” said one government source.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is expected to sound out the views of other EU governments when he chairs a meeting of the EU Transport Ministers Council in Brussels today.

“It has been discussed by senior aviation officials in Brussels and will be discussed informally at the meeting of EU transport ministers,” said a spokesman for Mr Brennan.

The spokesman said no final position had been adopted yet at Government level.

On assuming the EU presidency, the Government said it intended to try and reach consensus on the issue at an EU level.

Currently, there is no consensus in Europe. Only the British and French governments have so far said they would accept air marshals on some flights.