Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan will bring forward legislation that will allow random searches of civil aircraft to be carried out, with the aim of ensuring such vehicles are not illegally carrying munitions.
Civil aircraft refers to all non-military planes such as private and commercial aircraft.
Currently, the carrying of munitions of war is prohibited on any civil aircraft in Irish sovereign territory unless an exemption is granted, but this does not allow for random checks to be conducted.
Changes to primary legislation is required to allow random checks to be carried out.
Minister Ryan made the comment in response to the Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024, which proposes "to provide for the restriction on the transit and export of weapons of war from and through the State to the State of Israel and to provide for inspections of aircraft seeking to transit weapons through the State".
The Green Party leader said that "no airport in Ireland, or Irish sovereign airspace, is currently being used to transport weapons directly to Israel, despite claims otherwise".
"We have been one of the most vocal countries in Europe against the Israeli violence in Gaza. We clearly stand up for the right of nations to exist peacefully," he said.
"But the strength of our position internationally is that we follow international rules and laws," he added.
Regarding foreign military aircraft, the minister said that "diplomatic clearance" from the Minister for Foreign Affairs is already required, with permission to land subject to strict conditions.
These conditions include that the aircraft is not carrying arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in intelligence gathering; and that the flight does not form part of a military exercise or operation.
Mr Ryan said he will work with the Department of Foreign Affairs and other departments over the next six months to agree a legislative approach.
"I want to see random checks on civil aircraft and I will sit down with my officials and with legal experts over the coming months to make sure that new legislation is developed that is watertight, is workable and is compliant with international aviation law," he said.
Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, one of the four senators who introduced the bill, said that it is "completely disingenuous" for the minister to suggest that he is "trying to find a way to conduct checks when he already has the power to order inspections on flights that may contain munitions of war, weapons or dangerous goods under Article 8 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989".
She added that the minister "can and must immediately use the powers he already has to order inspections and stop granting exemptions to any flights which may directly or indirectly be transferring military materials to Israel at a time when that country is showing blatant disregard for international humanitarian law".
"Over 1,000 such exemptions granted in 2023 alone with the majority being given to the United States and Germany who are the two largest exporters of weapons to Israel," she added.
