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From the Irish Examiner:
THE Government has subsidised US military aircraft’s use of Shannon to the tune of €6 million in the past two years, figures obtained by the Irish Examiner reveal.
A decision by the Government to exempt foreign military aircraft from fees which apply to commercial flights means the taxpayer has to pay back millions in lost revenue to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
Department of Transport documents obtained by the Irish Examiner reveal that between January 2003 and December 2004 at least €5,851,000 will be paid by the Government in reimbursements to the IAA.
The bulk of the allotment applies to US planes carrying troops and equipment to the Gulf States to be deployed in the war in Iraq.
The Department of Transport paid the IAA over €2.8m last year to make up for exempted air traffic control and communications charges for military aircraft.
The estimated cost of this year’s payments has risen to €3.1m but is likely to be significantly higher as Gulf-bound military flights through Ireland reach unprecedented levels.
Although a number of flights, involving heads of state and search and rescue aircraft, are also exempted from fees, the majority of exemptions involve US military aircraft flying through Irish airspace and/or landing at Shannon.
An IAA spokeswoman last night confirmed that civilian planes chartered to carry US troops are also classed as military flights and exempted from fees.
As of October, 112,000 troops had passed through Shannon on 1,114 such flights. By the end of this year, it is expected that up to 350,000 US troops will have passed through the airport in the past three years.
As of last week, the Department of Transport had given special permission for 801 flights carrying arms to use Irish airspace this year.
Although Shannon has secured an estimated €14m from US business in 2004 - and €25m in the previous two years - the Government’s €6m exemption effectively acts as a subsidy to the US military.
Department of Transport documents indicate the policy of writing off air traffic control charges follows that of most other members of a European aviation agreement called Eurocontrol.
The Government unsuccessfully tried to recoup communications charges for military aircraft in the early 1990s before writing off all accrued debts.
In consultation with the Attorney General and the Department of Finance, the Government has since decided to cease charging communications fees to military aircraft.
Following a protest march to the airport against the landings on Saturday, gardaí were accused of “blatant intimidation” after just over 100 protestors canvassing local residents were followed. Gardaí stood nearby as protestors knocked on doors, handed out leaflets and gathered signatures for a petition.
Roger Cole, of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, said in his near 40 years in politics he has never heard of such actions. “They were clearly trying to intimidate not just us but also local residents,” claimed Mr Cole.
