The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs has confirmed a US military plane armed with a fixed weapon has landed at Shannon Airport this year, contrary to normal conditions.
Eamon Gilmore says the case has been raised at the highest possible level with the US Embassy.
366 foreign military aircraft landed at Shannon in the first nine months of the year, though these are subject to certain conditions, including that no arms are carried and that the flights don't form part of military exercises or operations.
However, in a written answer to Galway West TD Derek Nolan, Eamon Gilmore has revealed that the Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of one instance this year when a US flight carrying a fixed weapon landed at Clare's international airport, breaching normal conditions.
The government raised the incident with the US embassy, who say the isolated incident took place because of an administrative error, and that steps have been taken to ensure it won't happen again.
