US war planes to keep Irish ‘subsidy’

THE Government has ruled out reversing its decision to waive flight fees for military aircraft, despite being accused of subsidising the US war in Iraq.

The decision means taxpayers’ money will continue to be used by the Government to refund the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) for the air traffic control and communications fees which are not paid by military flights passing over or landing in Ireland.

Yesterday, the Irish Examiner revealed that overe6 million in lost fees has been repaid to the IAA from the Exchequer in the last two years.

A small number of other flights, including those carrying heads of state and search and rescue craft, are also exempted from fees.

Although other countries such as Austria, Moldova, Switzerland and Finland insist on applying charges to all military aircraft in their airspace, Ireland will continue to write off the fees.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Martin Cullen last night defended the practice saying US planes had been exempt from paying fees since 1973 and 30 other European nations also exempted military flights from charges.

However, Green Party spokesman John Gormley said the Government’s exemption of fees for Gulf-bound US aircraft amounted to a subsidy of an illegal and unjust war.

“We already knew that the Irish Government was assisting the illegal war in Iraq by providing the use of Shannon airport as a stopover for US military aircraft. Today we have learnt that the Government is also subsidising this illegal and unjust war with €6m of taxpayers’ money.”

Mr Gormley said most people would oppose such a use of taxpayers’ money.

Labour spokeswoman Róisín Shortall said the subsidy of US plans flying over Ireland was repugnant.