Gilmore reveals armed US military plane made Shannon landing

The Tánaiste has told the Dáil that a US military plane, armed with a fixed weapon, has landed at Shannon Airport this year, contrary to normal conditions.

Eamon Gilmore said the case has been raised at the highest possible level with the US Embassy.

Up to 366 foreign military aircraft landed at Shannon in the first nine months of the year, though these are subject to certain conditions, including that no arms are carried and that the flights do not form part of military exercises or operations.

However, in a written answer to Galway West TD Derek Nolan, Mr Gilmore has revealed that the Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of one instance this year when a US flight carrying a fixed weapon landed at Clare's international airport, breaching normal conditions.

The Government raised the incident with the US Embassy, who say the isolated incident took place because of an administrative error, and that steps have been taken to ensure it will not happen again.