Social Democrats senator Patricia Stephenson has called on the EU’s anti-fraud watchdog to launch an investigation into the Irish government’s failure to inspect flights into Shannon that may be facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.
Senator Stephenson, who is the party’s spokesperson on foreign affairs, said:
“There is credible evidence that military contractors and private aircraft carrying dual-use goods – good that can be used in weapons systems – are moving through Irish airspace and Irish territory en route to Israel. These flights are not secret – they are documented. And yet this government is choosing not to inspect them.
“Under EU customs law, Ireland is required to carry out risk-based inspections. That means prioritising flights operated by arms brokers or those on known weapons trade routes. That’s what the law says – and right now, Ireland isn’t following it.
“We’re not just talking about a moral failure – we’re talking about a breach of our EU obligations, a potential tax fraud, and a customs violation. If the Irish government won’t act to stop genocide, maybe it will act to avoid a tax investigation.
“That is why I, along with my colleague Gary Gannon, have written to OLAF, the European Anti-Fraud Office, requesting an investigation into Ireland’s failure to inspect these high-risk flights. We’ve also written to the Attorney General, asking whether this policy is consistent with Ireland’s legal duties under both EU law and the Genocide Convention.
“The government needs to be honest. If Ireland is letting weapons flow through Shannon on their way to a genocide, then we’re not neutral – we’re complicit.”
June 17, 2025