Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Dail Éireann — 2022-02-16
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Alan Kelly (LAB), Tipperary

I have a very specific and direct question. Is there any official, unofficial or secret agreement between the Irish State and the UK Government that permits the Royal Air Force, RAF, to conduct any form of armed operations in Irish airspace? Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House that this agreement does, or does not, exist? Under Article 15.6 of the Constitution, the Oireachtas is the only authority that can allow any other military force to operate within our State or on behalf of the State. Can the Taoiseach confirm to the House that no such agreement exists, either officially or unofficially? If one does exist, and a lot of people think that, will the Taoiseach finally confirm that to the House? The Oireachtas deserves and needs to know.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2022-02-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:50:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-02-16