Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State has given a clean and tidy answer but as he will know, the practical working of the status quois that hundreds of thousands of US troops go through Irish airspace and airports. Shannon Airport is the prime example. This has led to the killing of tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people in other lands. This country had a proud history of neutrality. Obviously these flights have been used for the rendition of individuals whose constitutional rights have not been respected. There has been smuggling of individuals and a large quantity of weaponry, to which the State has turned a blind eye. The amendment seeks to provide regulations to control what can be brought in and out of the State, through our airports, harbours and bays. If the State means what it states with regard to neutrality, then it should come up with regulations. I ask the Minister of State to accept these two amendments.