Government urged to ban US military from using Shannon Airport as a stopover 

Shannonwatch, which tracks US military stopovers through the airport, said there were a number of such flights over the weekend

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy allowing the US military to use Shannon would make Ireland “complicit” with the country’s ongoing strikes in Iran, saying the war is 'entirely unjustified'. File picture

The Government has been called upon to ban the US military from using Shannon Airport as a stopover point en route to the Middle East.

Senator Patricia Stephenson, the Social Democrats foreign affairs spokeswoman, wants the Government to give a “categoric commitment” on the issue.

She cited Spain’s decision to ban US military operations in Spanish territory, with the country’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez saying the war is unjustified.

“The government must make it clear to   that we cannot bomb our way to peace in the Middle East, and we will not support such a campaign,” Ms Stephenson said.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said it is “clear” Ireland should follow the lead of Spain and ban the US from using Irish airports.

He said allowing the US military to use Shannon would make Ireland “complicit” with the country’s ongoing strikes in Iran, saying the war is “entirely unjustified”.

“We should not be facilitating the US army in any way,” Mr Murphy said.

“Just since the start of the year, Donald Trump has had a military exercise killing hundreds of people or so in Venezuela, kidnapped the president. He has effectively tried to replace the UN with the board of peace. He’s threatened to invade Greenland and he is now bombing Iran.”

Mr Murphy said all other EU countries should stop allowing US military bases be located on their lands.

“Even if it’s the case that no direct flights are going through Shannon to Iran, by allowing other flights to move their logistics around and so on, you’re indirectly assisting their various operations.”

Shannonwatch, which tracks US military stopovers through the airport, has said there were a number of flights that transited through Shannon over the weekend.

It cited two US Air Force Hercules C-130H landed at Shannon on Saturday morning, while a US Navy air logistics flight left the airport for Sicily on the same day.

The Department of Foreign Affairs was asked if it’s position has changed on US flights through Shannon amidst the escalation in the Middle East.

A spokesperson said: “All foreign military and state aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in the State require diplomatic clearance.

“Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight in question does not form part of a military exercise or operation.

“This policy is well known and fully understood by the United States and other international partners.”

• Tadgh McNally is a Political Reporter.