Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport if he plans to appoint Authorised Officers beyond members of An Garda Síochána, as foreseen under Section 49 of the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998 and their training requirements. [8606/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Section 49 of the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act 1998 gives powers to authorised officers, including members of the Garda Síochána, to inspect any civil aircraft where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that an individual on board is guilty of one or other of the offences referred to in section 33(1)(d) of the 1988 Air Navigation and Transport Act. These include assault of a person on an aerodrome and possession of certain dangerous articles. It is considered that the powers available under statute are adequate to tackle any unlawful activities at Irish airports and as such, it is not my intention to introduce any new legislation in this area.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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It is usually the Garda which is left to do the bulk of this work. What do we mean by authorised officers? Would gardaí be the only people who would deal with individuals in airports or on aeroplanes?

We hear reports on renditions in Shannon Airport. Has the Minister investigated these claims or received reports on them? We hear repeated denials, but groups such as Shannon Watch, Amnesty International and other human rights organisations suggest rendition flights have landed at Shannon Airport. Is it solely up to the Garda to investigate these occurrences? There is a fear that the Garda is part of the State apparatus and would not give a neutral opinion on this matter. Has the Minister investigated the matter?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Garda can be trusted to be neutral in giving an opinion on this issue and in doing its job. The powers granted to authorised officers are granted to gardaí. We do not have any plans to appoint authorised officers beyond members of the Garda.

I do not want to go too much into the issue of extraordinary rendition because it is a question that should be directed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has some responsibility with regard to airport and air navigation Acts, but the issue of rendition, if it is occurring, is one for the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I would point out there have been a number of investigations into allegations of extraordinary rendition and none has revealed any evidence or even a specific allegation that any person on any occasion has been subject to extraordinary rendition through Ireland. I refer in particular to the investigation of the Council of Europe and the CIPT-UN committee.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister referred to the issue being a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It is included here as a reply from the Department of Transport. I ask if the Chair could rule on this question. We seem to get jumped from one Department to another and we do not get a direct answer.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy needs to put the question to the proper Minister, that is the issue.