Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I think it is very important to make that distinction about the Dáil resolution around Iraq being within a legal framework. It was not illegal to make the resolution. However, the Government is then speaking out of both sides of its mouth, saying that we are neutral but also saying we are sanctioning something within a legal framework, which people would not see as being neutral.

An issue which we have not really touched on, which Mr. Smyth mentioned, is the matter of rendition flights. Mr. Smyth said that he does not believe the same can be said of facilitating rendition flights if that has been done. We should consider the role of a neutral country, particularly in a space like Shannon, in the policing of planes coming through. It was clear from the Ministers who spoke to us that there is an understanding or gentlemen's agreement between ourselves and the US. If they tell us everything is hunky dory and there is no rendition happening on a plane, we do not touch the plane or check it out. The Garda was clear that it cannot go anywhere near a plane unless it gets sanction from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to do so.

How consistent is that policy of taking the Americans' word for it with other neutral countries whose position of neutrality is enshrined in their legal frameworks? Is there an argument that a fully neutral state should police the likes of the planes coming through Shannon to ensure that everything is as it should be? Should we just take the word of our US counterparts that it is not happening? How do we fit in internationally in this respect?