Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2013
22. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views regarding the findings of a distinguished legal research and advocacy panel from the Constitution Project that the United States had practised torture on prisoners. [23100/13]
View answerThe report to which the Deputy refers is a detailed document of more than 600 pages, produced by an organisation that aims to influence policy in the United States.
The report's conclusion that certain actions conducted under the authority of the United States Government were contrary to international humanitarian law and human rights law is fully consistent with the views of successive Irish Governments, as well as with those of our partners in the European Union.
The Deputy will be aware that in 2006 the US military, in its Field Manual, prohibited the use of a number of interrogation techniques, including waterboarding and sexual humiliation. In early 2009, by an Executive Order, President Obama required all US Government agencies to implement this Field Manual.
