Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

As Deputy Rabbitte said, the Irish Human Rights Commission wrote to me over the Christmas and new year period. There have been discussions in the Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs on this issue. We welcome the publication of Senator Marty's memorandum and will follow his future work on this matter in every way we can.

The memorandum summarises the various allegations made and does not appear to reveal any new information. He accurately records the Government's complete opposition to the practice of extraordinary rendition. We have constantly made it clear that we cannot and will not permit extraordinary rendition through Irish territory. The senator notes the Government's total condemnation of the practice. We are wholly opposed to torture or any breaches of international law under any of the conventions. I make this absolutely clear.

The Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, and the US authorities have given repeated, clear and explicit face to face assurances to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, acting on the Government's behalf, no later than the period prior to Christmas, that no prisoners have been transferred through Irish airports to Guatemala or anywhere else. We have put this to them on a number of occasions. We have put it to diplomats and others. The assurances we have received from the United States, which Deputy Rabbitte will appreciate, are unqualified and straightforward. Prisoners have not been transferred and will not be. These assurances differ from those received by other European governments.

We have been very clear about the position. I know the Deputy is concerned, as is every Member of the House and member of the public, that our facilities, which we have given because of historical connections, should not be used for the purpose of rendition. This is the latest position. I assure the House that we will co-operate fully with the Irish Human Rights Commission and the investigation by the Council of Europe, which has also written. We will co-operate with all of those in dealing with any guidelines or other issues put forward. We are happy to co-operate with the European Parliament and the PACE investigations. We have not been contacted in that regard but will give our full co-operation in an up front way.

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