The Irish Times has reported this morning that 248 US military flights above the numbers disclosed by the Irish Government used Irish airspace since last summer. This data excludes US military use of Shannon airport. The Department of Foreign Affairs claimed that the underreporting was due to an administrative error.
The Irish Times also reported that there has been a 56 per cent increase in US military overflights since the US started its attacks on Iran.
Paul Murphy of People Before Profit said the report is further evidence of Government complicity in US arming of genocide in Gaza and its wars in the Middle East. He also repeated People Before Profit calls for statements in the Dáil on the US military use of Irish airspace and Shannon airport
People Before Profit Dublin Central by election candidate Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin called for the Irish Government to follow the lead of the Spanish Government by banning US military aircraft involved in the war on Iran from our airspace.
Paul Murphy said:
“Today’s report adds more evidence of US military use of Irish airspace to arm its wars. It’s almost a year since I handed a folder of documents to Simon Harris on the floor of the Dáil. That folder contained proof of thousands of tonnes of weaponry going through Irish airspace on the way to be used by Israel for its Genocide in Gaza. The airlines themselves declared that they were carrying weapons.
“I accused Simon Harris of ‘studied, deliberate and false ignorance’ and ‘pretending’ he did not know what was going on. Nothing has changed. On the contrary, the Government’s pretence and complicity has now been extended to US military use of our airspace to prosecute its war on Iran.
“Last month, Micheál Martin said there is ‘No strong evidence’ to show that Irish airspace is being used by the United States as part of its war on Iran. But now the Taoiseach has precisely that evidence.
“The revised figures from the Department of Foreign Affairs shows that US military overflights increased from 32 in February to 50 in March, when the US began its war on Iran. The March numbers are the highest monthly figures since last summer.
“At the two most recent Oireachtas Business Committee meetings, Ruth Coppinger and Richard Boyd Barrett requested that the Government schedule Dáil time for statements on US military use of Irish airspace and Shannon airport, but these requests have been ignored. This week People Before Profit will again demand Dáil statements on US military use of our airspace and airport.
Dublin Central by election candidate Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin said “The Government pretends that it doesn't know what is going on. It has done that in relation to flights to arm the genocide in Gaza, and it’s doing it now in relation to the US war on Iran. People are furious about this and thousands marched in Dublin on Saturday to demand an end to the Government’s complicity in the genocide in Gaza and the war on Iran.
“Three weeks ago the Spanish Government banned US military aircraft involved in the war on Iran from its airspace, and other countries have placed restrictions on US military flights. The Irish Government must follow the example of the Spanish Government and ban US military aircraft involved in the war on Iran from our airspace.”