Tánaiste handed dossier of alleged illegal arms flights to Israel through Irish airspace

The Tánaiste Simon Harris has been handed a dossier of documents allegedly proving that Irish airspace is being used to transport weapons to Israel, despite his public statements to the contrary.

The confrontation took place during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil today, where People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy challenged the Tánaiste over comments he made on the Late Late Show last Friday.

During the interview, Mr Harris said he did not believe Irish skies were being used to carry arms to Israel.

“How can you say that, Tánaiste?” Deputy Murphy asked in the Dáil chamber.

“The Ditch have informed you. I’m very happy to pass over a folder of waybills from the airlines themselves.

“The airlines themselves are declaring they’re carrying weapons. These have been sent to you repeatedly, Tánaiste.”

The waybills reportedly include documentation from shipping giant FedEx, listing tracking numbers and flagging the items as “ITAR goods”, referring to the United States’ International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

“So you know about it,” said Deputy Murphy, “why do you say you don’t believe it’s happening? Are you claiming you haven’t received this evidence?

“Or are you saying you have received this evidence but you think the airlines are somehow, for some reason lying about having weapons and munitions on their planes?”

In his response, Tánaiste Harris reaffirmed that it is illegal for any airline to transport munitions of war through Irish airspace without the permission of the Minister for Transport.

He added that Ireland “needs to have a better understanding, a better knowledge as to what happens above our skies and below our seas.”

But Deputy Murphy was scathing in his reply, accusing the government of deliberate inaction. “This is deliberate false ignorance — pretending you don’t know what’s going on,” he said.

“Thousands of tonnes of weaponry have gone through Irish airspace on the way to be used in a genocide in Gaza. This is not a mystery. The airlines admit it.”

He called for the Minister for Transport to take immediate legal action against any companies found to be violating Irish law, pointing out that the offence carries a potential three-year prison sentence for aircraft owners or hirers.

Murphy once again offered the dossier across the floor of the Dáil, which the Tánaiste accepted, saying the government will examine the contents and that “if there have been breaches of Irish sovereign law, decisions will need to be taken on the next steps, based on evidence.”

Mr Harris also told the Dáil that the Department of Transport is currently working on new legislation to improve oversight in this area.

But Deputy Murphy dismissed the move as a stalling tactic: “The government already has all the evidence and legal powers it needs to prosecute the airlines concerned.

“Its claims to need new legislation or to have to conduct more investigations are just delay tactics.

“Just like with the Occupied Territories Bill, it hopes never to have to act.”