asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the basis on which immigration pre-clearance facilities have been made permanent at Shannon Airport, County Clare; if any changes have been made in the operating procedures prior to their being made permanent; if US immigration personnel operating at Shannon have any security role or function; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

United States Immigration and Public Health Preinspection facilities were established on a permanent basis at Shannon Airport on 12 April 1988 on the basis of the agreement between the Irish and US Governments effected under the Air Navigation and Transport (Preinspection) Act, 1986, to which the draft agreement was scheduled. No changes have been made in the operating procedures which were used during the trial period.

US immigration personnel operating at Shannon have no security role or function. Security arrangements at the airport remain the sole responsibility of the Irish authorities.

I am sure the Minister is aware that my question arises from a report in The Irish Times of 13 April 1988 which indicated that the new system would have the ability to prevent persons boarding planes who may have intentions of hijacking them and so forth. Can the Minister assure us that the personnel involved will be simply operating on the basis of information and not involved in arresting persons or in any way having a security role and that the Garda are the only people entitled to operate in that way?

I would like to assure the Deputy, in the words of my reply, that security arrangements at the airport remain the sole responsibility of the Irish authorities.