Paul Murphy demands action over munitions flights through Ireland
Paul Murphy accused major carriers of flying munitions through Irish airspace to Israel and urged the government to revoke operating licences for airlines found carrying weapons. He described the flow of arms as contributing to a horrific genocide in Gaza and said such overflights are not lawful without exemptions.
Paul Murphy said a Lufthansa plane recently flew through Irish airspace carrying about a tonne of munitions to Israel and alleged that tens of tonnes have passed through the state. He referenced social media footage of a beheaded baby in Gaza and said these shipments are being used to murder innocent people.
Murphy argued that, as he understands it, these flights would not have the necessary exemptions and therefore should not be allowed. He criticised the absence of consequences for major commercial carriers and noted that pre-election promises of legislation and random checks have not been delivered, comparing the inaction to the stalled occupied territories bill.
Murphy said independent senators introduced a private member's bill to force action and quoted the Minister for Transport as expressing concerns about how legislation might be implemented. In reply, a government spokesperson said airlines should seek permission, would not have been given permission to carry munitions, could avoid Irish airspace, and that the practice should not continue. The spokesperson said they would talk to the Minister for Transport about the report concerning Lufthansa.
Murphy directly asked why the government would not announce that any airline found carrying munitions through Irish airspace to Israel during the genocide would have its operating licence revoked. He accused the government of deepening complicity if it continues to permit the flights or to authorise related measures such as Israeli war bonds in the Senate.
Murphy pointed to published receipts for the flights, saying "the ditch is publishing the receipts for these flights," and framed that material as proof requiring urgent regulatory and legislative response.
Allegations of munitions flights
Paul Murphy said a Lufthansa plane recently flew through Irish airspace carrying about a tonne of munitions to Israel and alleged that tens of tonnes have passed through the state. He referenced social media footage of a beheaded baby in Gaza and said these shipments are being used to murder innocent people.
Legal and regulatory questions
Murphy argued that, as he understands it, these flights would not have the necessary exemptions and therefore should not be allowed. He criticised the absence of consequences for major commercial carriers and noted that pre-election promises of legislation and random checks have not been delivered, comparing the inaction to the stalled occupied territories bill.
Government response
Murphy said independent senators introduced a private member's bill to force action and quoted the Minister for Transport as expressing concerns about how legislation might be implemented. In reply, a government spokesperson said airlines should seek permission, would not have been given permission to carry munitions, could avoid Irish airspace, and that the practice should not continue. The spokesperson said they would talk to the Minister for Transport about the report concerning Lufthansa.
Calls for immediate action
Murphy directly asked why the government would not announce that any airline found carrying munitions through Irish airspace to Israel during the genocide would have its operating licence revoked. He accused the government of deepening complicity if it continues to permit the flights or to authorise related measures such as Israeli war bonds in the Senate.
Evidence cited
Murphy pointed to published receipts for the flights, saying "the ditch is publishing the receipts for these flights," and framed that material as proof requiring urgent regulatory and legislative response.
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Transcript
Tisak, just last week a plane from Lufthansa flew through Irish airspace carrying about a tonne of munitions to Israel to be used in the horrific genocide in Gaza. I watched a video just yesterday on social media of a beheaded baby in Gaza. Tens of tonnes of munitions have passed through Irish airspace on their way to Israel to murder innocent people. This is not legal. Unless they have exemptions, as I understand it, these don't have exemptions, they're not allowed to do it. But there seems to be no consequences whatsoever to major commercial carriers like Lufthansa flying weapons through Irish airspace with no exemption. Before the last election, the government sounded very concerned about all of this. They would act, there was talk of legislation to enable random checks on planes. But like with the occupied territories bill, nothing has happened. Last week, independent senators introduced a private member's bill to try to force you to act. And the Minister for Transport claimed that, quote, there is a genuine concern about how this legislation could actually be implemented. But we know, I mean, the ditch is publishing the receipts for these flights. Why don't you announce that any airlines found to be carrying munitions through Irish airspace to Israel during the genocide will have their operating licences revoked? Or is the government going to continue to deepen its complicity in genocide in terms of allowing these flights to go through, in terms of allowing the bonds to be, the Israeli war bonds to be authorized by the Irish Senate? And Deputy Murphy, again, the overflights, I will talk to the Minister for Transport in respect to this latest report of Lufthansa. There's an issue if people are doing it, they should seek permission. They wouldn't have been given permission. They can circumvent Ireland airspace if they so wish, they should. And they shouldn't be going through Irish airspace if they're carrying munitions. But I will talk to the Minister for respect to what we can do. We can't expect planes going overhead. But nonetheless, I think that's not a practice that we want to see continued.