UK confirms limits on military access to Irish airspace

The Ministry of Defence has said UK military aircraft do not enter Irish sovereign airspace for operational purposes without the express agreement of the Irish Government, following a parliamentary question on air interception arrangements between the two countries, the department stated.

The issue was raised by Carla Lockhart, Democratic Unionist Party MP for Upper Bann, who asked what arrangements exist between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland for intercepting unidentified or hostile aircraft operating in Irish airspace. Responding on behalf of the government, Defence Minister Al Carns said access to Irish airspace is handled through established diplomatic processes in line with international norms.

“Access to Irish airspace is managed through extant diplomatic channels as per international norms with clearance being requested and granted for state aircraft under set conditions,” he said.

Carns added that UK military aircraft do not operate within Irish sovereign airspace without prior political approval from Dublin.

“UK Military aircraft do not enter the sovereign airspace of Ireland for operational purposes, without the express prior agreement of the Irish Government,” he said.

The minister said matters relating to sovereign airspace access ultimately rest with individual states, adding that questions on Irish regulations should be directed to the Irish authorities.

Why do British jets ‘protect’ Irish airspace?

The response comes amid long-standing discussion over how air security is managed around Ireland, which has operated for decades without a fast-jet interception capability able to respond to high-speed unidentified aircraft.

For much of the post-war period, an understanding has existed allowing the Royal Air Force to respond when aircraft enter the Flight Information Region for which Ireland is responsible and fail to communicate with civil air traffic control. That arrangement, referenced in previous UK Defence Journal reporting, is understood to form part of a broader memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation between London and Dublin, periodically refreshed through bilateral engagement.

The arrangement does not constitute UK responsibility for Irish air defence. Instead, it is framed primarily around aviation safety, particularly within one of Europe’s busiest transatlantic flight corridors, where unidentified or non-transponding aircraft present collision risks to civilian traffic. UK officials have consistently maintained that any RAF activity is conducted with Irish consent and is focused on identification and air traffic safety rather than territorial defence. In practice, intercept missions allow controllers to establish visual identification of unknown aircraft, enabling civil authorities to re-route commercial flights and maintain a safe recognised air picture.

Irish governments have faced domestic political pressure to clarify the nature of the cooperation, particularly given Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality. However, both states have continued regular dialogue on air, maritime and critical infrastructure security, reflecting shared operational risks despite differing defence postures.

The MOD response reiterates the UK position that while cooperation exists, sovereignty over Irish airspace remains entirely with the Irish Government, and any military activity is subject to explicit diplomatic approval on a case-by-case basis.