Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I wish to continue on the theme of the Taoiseach's standards but in regard to the director of the Irish Centre of Human Rights, speaking at NUI in Galway last night, Professor William Schabas who said the Government should stop CIA flights landing at Shannon. How will the Taoiseach respond to that issue? He said yesterday it was ludicrous to have the Garda search airplanes. The US Secretary of State has admitted that rendition flights are taking place. The Taoiseach said yesterday he would not facilitate torture by any state but under international law — I have a couple of examples here — unless Ireland can verify that planes are not used for rendition in effect we are facilitating whatever might come out of any investigation. There is circumstantial evidence pointing to the fact that torture has taken place and may still be taking place. The United States' own New York University School of Law has said the refuelling of planes used for rendition is illegal if that is what is happening. I put it to the Taoiseach that effectively Ireland is an accomplice. That law dates back to the Nazi trials at Nuremburg. The law is already in place. It is not about diplomatic relations with the United States or goodwill gestures. It is about being found guilty in an international court of law. Is the Taoiseach looking out for the airplanes suspected of being used for rendition? Will he take note of the laws in place? If necessary, I will read from the Convention on International Civil Aviation, known as the Chicago Convention, from 1944, whereby any State is expected to, and quite understandably will, search a plane when there is any suspicion of untoward action as the US Secretary of State said.

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