Our disregard for international law

SHAUN CONNOLLY reported (May 24) that Taoiseach Kenny said that during his meeting with US President Obama that “they agreed there would be no change in respect of the US forces using Shannon Airport as a stop-off”.

In concluding this international agreement with the US President, An Taoiseach may be contravening the Irish Constitution Article 29.5.1 which states: “Every international agreement to which the State becomes a party shall be laid before Dáil Eireann” and 29.5.2. “The State shall not be bound by any international agreement involving a charge upon public funds unless the terms of the agreement shall have been approved by Dáil Eireann.”

Mr Kenny may claim that such an agreement was already in existence, but if that is the case it is questionable whether such agreement has ever been properly approved by the Dáil.