Poll finds most people oppose military use of Shannon

A poll finding that most Irish people oppose the US using Shannon Airport for military purposes has fuelled calls for Taoiseach Enda Kenny to raise the issue with President Barack Obama.

With six in 10 people opposing the military use of the airport, the results of the poll will send a stark message to Washington in a week where relations are usually cordial between Ireland and the US. Independent TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly will release further details of the Red C poll today. They have renewed calls for an inquiry into how Shannon has been used for US military purposes.

Initial details of the poll show 57% of people questioned believe that the Constitution should be changed to ensure Ireland’s neutrality is enshrined in it. However, it also found that the same amount of people oppose the use of Shannon by the United States for military transit purposes, the TDs said.