The Department of Transport contacted Israel's national airline about flights illegally carrying weapons through Irish airspace – but officials tolerated El Al stalling the investigation for almost eight months after the company hired lawyers.
The airline replied three days later, telling the department it had been delayed because of holidays. A civil servant then sent a "letter in respect of El Al operations in Irish airspace", adding they would "appreciate it" if the recipient gave it their "immediate attention".
But rather than engage directly with Irish authorities, El Al soon switched to having all communication handled through law firm DLA Piper.
It delayed sending the relevant information for eight months – with Department of Transport officials tolerating its excuses and extensions.
‘We expect to be in a position to send a fuller response’
On 9 October , El Al's VP of flight operations acknowledged the correspondence from the Department of Transport, writing, "I am looking into your inquiry and will get back to you." On 16 October, the same official told the department they needed more time.
"I would like to update that the information necessary to prepare a response is being gathered. Starting this afternoon tomorrow there are El Al office closures by reason of Succoth, a national festival in Israel," they said.
"At present, we expect to be in a position to send a fuller response to you by the end of Thursday next week."
By 24 October law firm DLA Piper took over all communication, sending the first formal legal letter to the department with an attachment from El Al.
As the legal delays mounted, El Al kept carrying weapons through Irish airspace.
On 4 November the department sent a letter to DLA Piper, but the Department of Transport refused to release it.
Nine days later on 13 November DLA Piper sent what is described as its "2nd letter" addressing what the firm called "the priority issue”. The law firm sent a third letter on 3 December.
After more than three months of no written communication, the department wrote to DLA Piper on 20 March, 2025.
Nearly a month later on 17 April, the law firm said they were "making good progress with gathering the requested documents" and expected to respond by the end of April.
That deadline passed.
On 7 May, DLA Piper wrote, "As you know we expected to be in a position to respond to you by the end of last week. Unfortunately that was not the case. However we can advise that our further letter will be with you in the coming days."
The documents finally arrived on 28 May, 2025 – almost eight months after the department initially contacted the airline on 4 October, 2024.
Records released to The Ditch show DLA Piper's final submission included 34 supporting documents – but the department withheld the formal letters and supporting documents under exemptions for "deliberations", functions and negotiations”, and "information obtained in confidence”.
Under Irish aviation law, aircraft carrying munitions of war must receive permission from the transport minister before flying through Irish airspace. Violations carry a penalty of up to three years' imprisonment.
The department has not indicated what action, if any, it plans to take following El Al's submission. A spokesperson for the department told The Ditch it is not in a position to comment at this time.
