Dept of Transport making 'inquiries' over stopping of US deportees flight in Shannon
The Taoiseach has said that the Department of Transport is continuing to make "inquiries" in relation to a US plane carrying deportees which reportedly stopped at Shannon Airport this week.
It was reported in the New York Times that an aircraft with a number of people on board landed at the Co Clare airport on Tuesday night.
The newspaper said the flight landed in Shannon at around 9.39pm for around two hours, before continuing its journey to the African nation of Djibouti.
Speaking to reporters in Cork, Micheál Martin said "we need to be careful about a knee-jerk reaction to one individual flight, if that's the case".
However, he confirmed that Department of Transport officials are seeking answers over the flight.
The incident was raised by Labour leader Ivana Bacik in the Dáil yesterday.
"These are deportation flights which are illegal, taking place in violation of a US court order," she said.
"In other words, an Irish airport has been used as an instrument to violate human rights," she added.
When asked about the incident, the Taoiseach said that there are "various international and legal agreements pertaining to aircraft landing and re-fuelling" in other countries.
He said this means "it wouldn't have been immediately apparent there were deportees [from the US] on any flights", and that "further inquiries are being made by the Department of Transport".
Asked if all civilian flights now need to be reviewed or checked, the Taoiseach said: "I think we need to be careful about a knee-jerk reaction to one individual flight, if that's the case."
"We'll assess it [the situation], these are issues we will review and we will take a position on," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Agriland
an hour ago
- Agriland
Opinion: Irish tillage sector has been left in limbo
Irish tillage farmers have become increasingly frustrated at the lack of strategic vision coming from government regarding the future direction of their industry. And, truth be told, they have more than a valid point. Recent days have seen leading representatives from the Irish Grain Growers' Group (IGGG) expressing their views in terms of what is really going on within tillage at the present time. Their annoyance centres on a number of fundamental realities. Firstly, farmers committed to the growing of crops cannot generate sustainable incomes. And, in turn, this is leading to growers leaving the industry or, at the very least, actively considering their futures in it. But it was all supposed to be so very different. Prior to the last general election, the two main parties in the current government – Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil – each promised an additional €300 million of support for tillage during the lifetime of this Dáil. This works out at some €60 million per year. But, so far, there has been no indication of these monies being made available to growers in any sense. And, of course, prior to all of this, we had the publication of the National Climate Action Plan, within which is a commitment to grow Ireland's tillage sector to 400,000ha by 2030, a mere four years' time. Currently, the industry is just about treading water in terms of its geographic footprint. However, another bad harvest in 2025 could send the sector into a life support scenario. Meanwhile, everyone agrees that the tillage industry has an exceptionally low carbon footprint. And, on that basis alone, its future must be ring-fenced and further encouraged. Irish tillage There are lots of reasons why tillage farmers feel sore about the ways in which they feel politics has failed them. A case in point is the Food Vision Tillage Group. It was set up by the previous government and seen by many as the 'great white horse', empowered to map out a clear future for arable farming in Ireland. However, its report has come and gone with no formal response to its recommendations coming from either the current or previous administrations. And, of course, actions – or lack of them – always speak louder than words. Recent days have seen Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon chair an international agriculture and climate conference at which he highlighted the need for the development of more sustainable and climate-friendly food production practices into the future. It all strikes me as the perfect prelude for the minister to now issue his strategic vision for the future of tillage in Ireland.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Do right thing Donald Trump' – Enormous ‘Free Palestine' message scrawled in sand at Doonbeg as plea issued for US pres
AN enormous 350-foot wide message reading "Free Palestine" was scrawled in the sand at a beach in front of US President Donald Trump's golf resort in Co Clare this week. A trio of activists wrote the temporary message in response to Israeli attacks in 3 'Free Palestine' message in the sand near Trump's hotel Credit: Sean Corcoran 3 Each letter in the sand art stood at about 40 foot tall Credit: Sean Corcoran Sean Corcoran, who worked alongside two friends to create the sand art on Doughmore Strand in He told RTE: "Israel's actions are being made possible by the USA and other countries who continue to supply them military equipment." Sean continued: "I chose the Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg as a poignant location for this installation. I thought I would use the privilege I am afforded in this democracy to voice my opinion. "I believe a turning point has been reached and politicians will need to start responding to growing public outrage. READ MORE IRISH NEWS "The USA and other countries need to stop supporting Israel. "We all need to insist on a ceasefire. Do the right thing Each letter in the sand art, which Sean's friends James Corcoran Hodgins and Caoláin Power assisted him with, stood at about 40 foot tall. But Sean, who is a regular visitor to the US on art projects, admitted that the message at Donald Trump's golf course in Ireland could land him in trouble if he tries to return to America. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN He said: "If the Trump administration decided that my opinions and actions on the sand are anti-Semitic, it's possible that I would be detained or deported if I try to return." Moment dozens of pro-Palestine protesters are arrested at gates of Government The for Irish people heading to the US in general has not changed , Simon Harris previously confirmed. However, the Tanaiste said that this advice will be kept "under constant review". He added that people have seen "scenes from across America in terms of protest", specifically when it comes to He said: "It's important when you go to any jurisdiction to consider the local situation, the local laws, to consider if what is acceptable in Ireland is acceptable in the country that you are visiting and to also know, specifically in relation to the TRAVEL RISK The in Ireland, which represents over 350,000 students, has The USI said: "While activism is a vital part of student life and a right that should be protected, it is important that students fully understand the possible consequences for their visa status, including the risk of deportation, and take steps to safeguard their participation in such activities." Separately, A US- and Israeli-backed group handing out aid in Gaza said all its distribution sites were closed until further notice. The group urged residents to stay away from these venues "for their safety" after a series of deadly shootings. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said that a reopening date would be announced at a later time. 3 Sean Corcoran worked alongside two friends to create the sand art on Doughmore Strand in Doonbeg Credit: Sean Corcoran
Dublin Live
5 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Irish resident released in Iraq after more than four years in custody
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Roscommon resident has been released by authorities in Iraq – after being locked up for more than four years, it has emerged. Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris tonight revealed that Robert Pether – who is an Australian citizen but had been living in Elphin with his Irish family – was released on bail earlier today. Mr Harris, who has been working to secure the engineer's release for several months, said his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein contacted him to tell him of the development. Construction engineer Mr Pether, 49, who is married to Desree Pether, 53, from Roscommon, has been locked up since April 2021. The father-of-three was jailed over four years ago in a €20 million contract row between his Dubai-based employer and the Central Bank of Iraq. His distraught family in Ireland revealed Mr Pether, who previously had melanoma skin cancer, has a prostate that is "three times (the) normal size" and that he also has gallstones. Mr Pether and an Egyptian colleague had been employed by a Dubai-based construction company, CME Consulting, to build a new Central Bank in Baghdad, when the contract row erupted. They are accused of stealing money from the project, which they both deny. The United Nations has slammed his jailing as "arbitrary detention." He was due to be released last January but Iraq issued new charges against them and he was facing a further 15 years in custody – until Mr Harris intervened earlier this year. He was a free man tonight - although he must remain in Iraq for the meantime. But the Tánaiste welcomed the decision to free him. He said: "This evening, I have been informed of the release on bail of Robert Pether, whose imprisonment in Iraq has been a case of great concern. "This is very welcome news in what has been a long and distressing saga for Robert's wife, three children and his wider family and friends. "Foreign Minister Hussein of Iraq, whom I spoke to last month to urge Robert's release, called me this evening with the news. I was informed that Robert has been released on bail and for the moment he remains in Iraq, but I welcomed this as a first step to his being allowed to return to his family in Roscommon." The Tánaiste also said he had been in contact with Mrs Pether over the release – and said he was grateful to Irish diplomats who had worked on the case. He said: "I also spoke this evening with Robert's wife, Desree Pether, about this positive development. "I want to thank Irish diplomatic officials based in the region for their continued work on this case. "We remain concerned about Robert's health and outstanding charges, but I am hopeful now of a positive resolution in this case." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage .
