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Programme for Government Implementation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2014

Thursday, 18 December 2014

Questions (465)

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

465. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide an update on the steps being taken to carry out the commitment in the programme for Government regarding use of Irish airspace and the need to ensure Irish airspace and related facilities are not used for any purposes not in line with international law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49219/14]

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Written answers

The Programme for Government states that the Government ‘will enforce the prohibition of the use of Irish airports and related facilities for purposes not in line with the dictates of international law’.

The Government has repeatedly stated that Ireland does not tolerate and will not tolerate the use of our airspace or airports for any illegal purpose, including torture, rendition or the unauthorised detention of any individual. The Government has sought, and received, categorical assurances from the US Government that no prisoner had been, or would be, transferred through Irish territory without the express permission of the Irish authorities, which it was made clear, would not be forthcoming.

I welcome the publication last week of the United States Senate Intelligence Committee’s summary report on its investigation of the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation programme. The report does not identify specific countries where interrogation or detention took place, nor countries through which prisoners were transferred. I have instructed my officials to approach the US authorities to enquire whether this report found any evidence or drew any conclusions in relation to the use of Irish airspace or Irish airports in connection with the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Programme.

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