Human Rights Issues.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2006

Wednesday, 22 February 2006

Ceisteanna (79, 80, 81, 82)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

103 Ms C. Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of a recent human rights report published by the UN, he will openly condemn the continued use of the US Government facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to intern and torture prisoners denying them access to justice and due process; if, in view of the significant breeches of human rights perpetrated by US officials as documented in this report, he will order that all US military aircraft using Irish airports be boarded and inspected to ensure that extraordinary renditions are not occurring and that Ireland is not complicit in these breaches in human rights; if in the absence of such a condemnation and a commitment to inspect US military flights he will clarify his position as regards Ireland’s neutrality and commitment to human rights as he sees it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7139/06]

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

136 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has come to any decision regarding the rendition of passengers at Irish airports; if he has come to a final decision in relation to on the spot inspections in view of the practice of so-called extraordinary rendition, in view of his previous statements to such practice; his views on whether on the spot inspections are the only way forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7132/06]

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

155 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the additional steps that will be taken to ensure that no Irish facility will be used for the covert transfer of detainees or prisoners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6804/06]

Shane McEntee

Ceist:

159 Mr. McEntee asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps the Government has taken to ensure that no Irish facilities have been used for the rendition of prisoners or detainees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6848/06]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 103, 136, 155 and 159 together.

I refer Deputies to my reply to Question No. 76 of today and, in particular with respect to the US facility at Guantanamo, I refer Deputies to the reply I gave earlier to Priority Question No. 58 on this issue.

I am not aware of any suggestion that US military aircraft transiting through Irish airports are involved in extraordinary rendition operations. Allegations regarding extraordinary rendition have tended almost universally to involve chartered civilian aircraft. The Government will continue to follow the long-standing practice whereby details supplied by the US authorities to the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding flights by military aircraft are accepted in good faith as being accurate.

As recognised by Dáil Eireann on 20 March 2003, the Government's decision to continue to extend landing and overflight facilities to US military aircraft continued a long-standing arrangement. US military aircraft have been landing in and overflying Ireland since at least the end of the Second World War. There is therefore no question Ireland's policy of military neutrality being affected by US military landings.

As I have made clear to the House on numerous occasions, the United States has given Ireland repeated, clear and explicit assurances that no prisoners have been transferred through Irish territory, nor would they be, without our permission. These assurances were confirmed by Secretary Rice at our meeting on 1 December, and have been confirmed during several meetings already this year, including as recently as last week. I should add that our complete opposition to the practice of extraordinary rendition has been made clear on numerous occasions.

Question No. 104 answered with QuestionNo. 77.