Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Leo Varadkar’s suggestion that U.K. flights could be denied access to Irish airspace in the event of us reclaiming our territorial waters after Brexit is, of course, foolish but a point which has escaped the notice of most to date is the possible implications for the defence of the Republic of Ireland were such a course of action adopted by Dublin.
“Just last month the U.K. Defence Journal reported:
“It is understood that Civil servants from the Irish Department of Defence and Department of Foreign Affairs with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) entered into a bilateral agreement with British counterparts: the RAF, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Ministry of Defence, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
“The agreement reportedly permits the British military to conduct armed operations over Ireland in the event of a terrorist-attack, real or suspected.
Ireland operates ‘The Air Corps’ who fly a fleet of fixed and rotary wing aircraft (but no jet aircraft), it provides military support to the Irish Army and Naval Service.”
(See https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-air-force-asked-defend-ireland/ ).
“This is an agreement at the Republic’s behest to protect the Republic in the event of a terrorist attack.
“Given that the Irish State is dependent on the RAF for its air defence in the event of a terrorist attack it is obviously exceedingly unwise for Varadkar to pompously and arrogantly suggest that Dublin could deny civilian aircraft from the U.K. access to Irish airspace!
“It seems he wants to have his cake and eat it.”