Weapons landings soar

THE number of aircraft with weapons landing here has soared despite the decision by three US carriers to bypass Shannon airport.

Government permission for planes to fly in our airspace has also increased dramatically, with approvals rising from none in the five months to the end of January to 18 last month.

Department of Transport figures reveal that 52 aircraft were allowed land in February, an increase of 17 on the previous month. There is no breakdown by country but the majority, if not all, have been carrying US troops and their weapons to the Gulf.

Labour deputy Michael D Higgins said he was not surprised by the increase. He said the Government's refusal to reveal its position on Shannon if there is no second UN resolution on war in Iraq was shameful.

Mr Higgins said the increased traffic through Shannon and over Ireland "emphasises the importance of the Government coming clean on how Shannon is being used".

Three charter airlines have already announced they will no longer land at Shannon, most notably World Air.

The companies make commercial flights but also charter airplanes for use by the US military. They cited security concerns following a number of breaches by peace protestors.

While there was an upsurge in flights last month, Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said he believed in more recent days there had been a drop in military traffic, an indication that the US was close to completing its Gulf build-up.

Mr Breen helped organise a Shannon support meeting last night.

The meeting brought together business, political, community and union leaders, with the majority voicing solidarity with the US, a vitally important market for the airport.

The organisers want to switch the public focus away from the anti-war protests, the security concerns and the image of army and gardaí in riot gear to the wider economic problems affecting the airport and the surrounding area.

"There is deep concern the airport was used as a pawn, particularly by the peace protestors," Mr Breen said.

He said that, so far, the use of Shannon had been fully within UN rules.

But he added: "It's going to totally different situation should the US decide to go it alone."