Irish and US sources said permission had been sought for the flight at a Government level. The aircraft also received clearance from Irish air traffic control (ATC). However, it is not clear how this was justified under current Irish Government policy.
He [Minister James Lawless] said he was more concerned about the fact that a “Russian shadow tanker” could get so close to Ireland, citing both environmental and security concerns.
You should be! They were only in international waters, but what if they were heading to invade Sligo!!?
You should buy our premium weapons defence package to help defend yourself! And while you can't use it in this case (As the ship, like all the others, were in international waters)
I hope you find this scare necessary and increase defence spending soon.
Our EEZ to the west is roughly 370km, so if it was within then it had to be closer than that.
Usually the Russian shadow tankers pass at the limit of our territorial waters, so about 22 kilometres away from our coast. About 40 minutes to reach the coast with the tanker, 20 with a fast motorboat, so not a terrible problem... If we had the ability to keep track of them. Unfortunately we don't and in fact there have been allegations that this "shadow fleet" often cuts a few nautical miles into our territorial waters (which I guess some captains might be tempted to do to shave off a few hours of travel).
Satellite data yesterday showed the Marinera, previously known as the Bella, around 400km west of Ireland, travelling north, outside the State's Exclusive Economic Zone.
From the original article, were not talking about other ships we're talking about this ship.
You can’t excuse being apologetic of Russian crimes under the guise of being anti US imperialism. Both Russia and the USA are engaging in illegal invasions and both should be held to the same standards. You know very well what you were implying in your comment in saying “Are these the Russians I’m supposed to be worried about” don’t try and play the fool.
Russians have killed, raped and kidnapped hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and the US committing international crimes is not an opportunity for Russia apologetics like yourself to pounce.
I believe in the EU. Russia and the US have nothing to do with us.
I'm not worried about the Russians because they can't get out Donetsk, thanks to the Ukranians. But the Russians have never stated they intended to dismantle the EU and annex it's territory either.
You have an off balanced threat analysis. Your bias is making you ignore a genuine threat that Europe hasn't faced since at least the end of the Cold war.
The US aren't going to go dark in Irish airspace, they do have that level of respect for us. They request diplomatic approval, we grant it, and if we don't they avoid Irish airspace. The first aircraft said to Shannon ATC when passing through airspace that they had been granted diplomatic approval to use airspace, but said that they weren't going to be "operational" until out of Irish airspace and over the Atlantic. Which seems like a bit of a loophole of sorts to be able to fly sorties over Ireland without them yet being officially on operation.
Irish aircraft are also on rotation monitoring the ship, so there is obviously some level of communication and possible coordination between Defence Forces, and the USAF/USN and RAF.
Either way it isn't difficult to be aware of the use of our airspace by the US, so the Tanaiste should be able to give an answer one way or the other.
The US aren't going to go dark in Irish airspace, they do have that level of respect for us.
They don't have respect for anything right now, have no issue threatening the sovereignty of NATO allies, are being warned by their oldest Allies France (who've already pledged defence of Greenland) and the UK to back down.
Don't kid yourself.
I would bet every thing I own that the only respect they gave was a courtesy call to tell us this was happening, that the Government "allowed" it because we have no means to prevent it, and that the plane we deployed was a show to make it seem like we were "in" on the operation - the Government saving face.
I would bet that because that is what happened with the weapons flights to Israel, what happened when the Brits/5 eyes/GCHQ monitoring leaked and was retroactively legalised, and what happens when a country's hands their air sovereignty to the RAF and anyone who wants to do what they want there.
Which, in this case, it would appear they haven't.
"Tánaiste, did the United States request permission to fly this aircraft above Irish airspace?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
And, according to the article:
The US military are allowed to fly over Ireland without prior notification on condition that the aircraft is unarmed, carry only cargo and passengers, and comply with navigational requirements.
So unless the aircraft was carrying weapons, the only story here is our inability to detect foreign aircraft in our airspace.
Harris telling a reporter he is not aware of something is not the same thing as the government saying it.
The Irish Times previously reported they had
Irish and US sources said permission had been sought for the flight at a Government level. The aircraft also received clearance from Irish air traffic control (ATC). However, it is not clear how this was justified under current Irish Government policy.
The Department of Foreign Affairs did not respond to requests for comment.
Realistically he is never aware of anything, that's his go to response to everything.
If he's not aware, he's not responsible. At least, that appears to be line of logic they've been using for the last few decades now.
IT says similar
https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/01/06/second-us-aircraft-flew-over-irish-airspace-to-track-oil-tanker-under-russian-flag/
but a previous article said
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/01/06/us-naval-aircraft-crossed-ireland-during-pursuit-of-sanctioned-oil-tanker/
Then you have this,
In what way is ~400km close?
Hush up and stop asking questions, that's our national broadcasters job to not be doing!
You mean to tell me you're not scared!!
You should be! They were only in international waters, but what if they were heading to invade Sligo!!?
You should buy our premium weapons defence package to help defend yourself! And while you can't use it in this case (As the ship, like all the others, were in international waters)
I hope you find this scare necessary and increase defence spending soon.
Yours truly etc!
What perceived danger does the Minister imagine?
And why does a confirmed violation not bother him as much as a hypoyhetical one?
A source for that 400 km?
Our EEZ to the west is roughly 370km, so if it was within then it had to be closer than that.
Usually the Russian shadow tankers pass at the limit of our territorial waters, so about 22 kilometres away from our coast. About 40 minutes to reach the coast with the tanker, 20 with a fast motorboat, so not a terrible problem... If we had the ability to keep track of them. Unfortunately we don't and in fact there have been allegations that this "shadow fleet" often cuts a few nautical miles into our territorial waters (which I guess some captains might be tempted to do to shave off a few hours of travel).
Here you can find an article discussing the issue. At the top there is a map with some black dots which have been where we managed to see the ships. https://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/2025/0724/1525050-shadow-fleet-irish-eez/
You might notice that there are a few blind spots.
From the original article, were not talking about other ships we're talking about this ship.
He's our nations primary TIK TOK expert, he can't be expected to know everything.
Are these the Russians I'm supposed to be worried about?
No, the Russians are on the illegal ship. And they are also on the illegal ships cutting power lines off the coast of Finland 👍
Can you provide any legal attribution for your claims?
There are also Americans proposing to annex EU member state territory potentially violating our air space.
Why should I be more worried about a "shadow realm boat" than a violation of my air space by a state that threatens the destruction of the EU?
I remember people being called "useful idiots" when they espoused seemingly pro-russian takes.
What's the term when they do the same for the US?
You can’t excuse being apologetic of Russian crimes under the guise of being anti US imperialism. Both Russia and the USA are engaging in illegal invasions and both should be held to the same standards. You know very well what you were implying in your comment in saying “Are these the Russians I’m supposed to be worried about” don’t try and play the fool.
Russians have killed, raped and kidnapped hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and the US committing international crimes is not an opportunity for Russia apologetics like yourself to pounce.
I believe in the EU. Russia and the US have nothing to do with us.
I'm not worried about the Russians because they can't get out Donetsk, thanks to the Ukranians. But the Russians have never stated they intended to dismantle the EU and annex it's territory either.
You have an off balanced threat analysis. Your bias is making you ignore a genuine threat that Europe hasn't faced since at least the end of the Cold war.
Difficult to be aware of aircraft flying overhead without any radar capabilities whatsoever.
The US aren't going to go dark in Irish airspace, they do have that level of respect for us. They request diplomatic approval, we grant it, and if we don't they avoid Irish airspace. The first aircraft said to Shannon ATC when passing through airspace that they had been granted diplomatic approval to use airspace, but said that they weren't going to be "operational" until out of Irish airspace and over the Atlantic. Which seems like a bit of a loophole of sorts to be able to fly sorties over Ireland without them yet being officially on operation.
Irish aircraft are also on rotation monitoring the ship, so there is obviously some level of communication and possible coordination between Defence Forces, and the USAF/USN and RAF.
Either way it isn't difficult to be aware of the use of our airspace by the US, so the Tanaiste should be able to give an answer one way or the other.
They don't have respect for anything right now, have no issue threatening the sovereignty of NATO allies, are being warned by their oldest Allies France (who've already pledged defence of Greenland) and the UK to back down.
Don't kid yourself.
I would bet every thing I own that the only respect they gave was a courtesy call to tell us this was happening, that the Government "allowed" it because we have no means to prevent it, and that the plane we deployed was a show to make it seem like we were "in" on the operation - the Government saving face.
I would bet that because that is what happened with the weapons flights to Israel, what happened when the Brits/5 eyes/GCHQ monitoring leaked and was retroactively legalised, and what happens when a country's hands their air sovereignty to the RAF and anyone who wants to do what they want there.
Unless they've told you before hand.
Which, in this case, it would appear they haven't.
"Tánaiste, did the United States request permission to fly this aircraft above Irish airspace?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
And, according to the article:
So unless the aircraft was carrying weapons, the only story here is our inability to detect foreign aircraft in our airspace.
Harris telling a reporter he is not aware of something is not the same thing as the government saying it.
The Irish Times previously reported they had
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/01/06/us-naval-aircraft-crossed-ireland-during-pursuit-of-sanctioned-oil-tanker/
Interesting. I didn't see the IT article. There's a miscommunication somewhere.
Ridiculous you know exactly what they are doing, deliberating not telling him. probably.
Who's deliberately not telling who?
The story is the same either way - foreign country's can do what they like in Irish airspace regardless of Irish or International law.