The update of Apple’s operating system to iOS 6 has brought about several glitches in their Maps application, one which places an airport atop of Dublin’s own farms, drawing comment from Minister for Justice Alan Shatter.

The Irish Times reports how Minister Alan Shatter has safety concerns after a farm named “Airfield” has been listed as an airport in the latest version of Apple’s Maps application.

Minister Shatter said, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, that "I know on occasion mistakes can be made and I am surprised to discover that Airfield, which is in the centre of my constituency in Dundrum, has, in Apple’s new operating system iOS 6 maps application, been designated with the image of an aircraft.”

Airfield in Dublin is, in fact, a 35-acre site that is home to a city farm, gardens and a cafe.

Surely having a bit of fun, Minister Shatter added: “In context of Airfield there are a variety of possible alternative images that could be utilised such as a cow, a goat, a sheep, a flower or any indeed other type of plant, as Airfield operates a nursery. An aircraft is an entirely inappropriate flight of imagination.”

Paul Cullen, director of safety and technical with the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA), however, felt that Minister Shatter’s concerns were unwarranted as pilots wouldn’t likely be using their iPhones in case of an emergency landing.

Cullen said, “If it was a real emergency in a small aircraft you would be looking for a landing strip and you wouldn’t have time to take your phone out to look for an airport.

“Small aircraft can use anything from a road atlas up, you wouldn’t even necessarily be using a compass because you’d be flying visually,” Cullen said. “They’d use a lot of physical features, rivers, train lines, you’d see it is not an airport.”

Dublin Airport was also quick to confirm the Apple gaffe. They (@DublinAirport) tweeted: “Just in case anybody is confused Dublin Airport is not moving to the southside. #mapfail.”

Several mistakes have been noticed in the Apple Maps program all over the world. A separate mistake in Dublin placed the Dublin Zoo in Temple Bar.