Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I will try to make the position clear again. Deputy Rabbitte correctly stated that there are a number of investigations going on, such as that of the Irish Human Rights Commission. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe has asked for responses to questionnaires, which we will give. We will be happy to co-operate with the European Parliament and the PACE investigations.

Last week, the European Parliament set up a temporary committee to investigate the allegations of transport and illegal detention of prisoners by the CIA in European countries. Our MEPs of all parties are involved. Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the committee on legal affairs, Senator Marty, presented an information memorandum on the issue. It states there is no formal, irrefutable evidence of the existence of secret CIA detention centres in any member state. However it finds that individuals have been rendered to countries where they have suffered degrading treatments and torture. Sources for this include former and present CIA officials, European government officials and NGO personnel. We will co-operate with regard to any of those areas.

We did not sit back and ignore this, nor have we taken the view that if we do not ask the question we will not get an answer. We have not only relied on diplomatic responses. Condoleezza Rice is Secretary of State of the United States and a senior representative, not a diplomat. It has been made absolutely clear. She has stated that no rendition has taken place through Shannon at any time, ever. This is the unqualified position. She has given categoric assurances. This was confirmed as late as yesterday by the ambassador and we have kept monitoring this position.

Deputy Rabbitte understands that for me to go beyond that, I could only call senior American officials one thing and I am not prepared to do so.

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