Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I am aware those assurances were given. However, assurances were also given to the Spanish Government, which were subsequently found not to be true. In a court of law, assurances given by the US would not stand up. The Irish Government must take that point into account before it follows the US down the road of illegal practices or falsehoods that could put Ireland in the position of being an accomplice in an international illegal event.

Article 16 of the Chicago Convention is quite clear:

Search of aircraft

The appropriate authorities of each of the contracting States shall have the right, without unreasonable delay, to search aircraft of the other contracting States on landing or departure, to inspect the certificates and other documents prescribed by this Convention.

It is international law to which it is possible and expected we have recourse to in these circumstances. Under the Air Navigation and Transport Act it does not have to be carried out by members of the Garda Síochána. Authorised officers from the Department of Transport or the airport authority are also empowered to do so.

Does the Taoiseach regard it as being somewhat suspicious to hear of 50 landings and 35 departures at Shannon of CIA hired planes? Is there a need for a much closer inspection to ensure full transparency so the Irish Government can stand up in a court, which may be the case in the future, and state it can verify the evidence, and is not merely taking the word of another country?

See this speech in context