Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

The December summit in Brussels issued a statement on climate change and sustainable energy which referred to the Gleneagles plan of action. Was this taken on board, particularly in the area of technology transfer, during the Taoiseach's visit to India, and did it figure in his discussions with President Kalam or Prime Minister Singh? Will the Taoiseach indicate whether the nuclear non-proliferation treaty arose? Given that India has not signed up to the treaty Frank Aiken would have wished a Fianna Fáil Taoiseach to raise it.

Neither France nor the Netherlands has indicated there will be a new poll on the European constitution, while the Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, taking on the Presidency in the second half of this year, has called on states that have already ratified the EU constitution to accept possible changes to the text. Is that view being treated with any sympathy by the Irish Government? The Polish President's view is that a new convention is needed to write a brand new constitution. Does the Taoiseach support either of those positions or does the Government have another view on the matter?

On the EuroMed conference and counter terrorism, I note a code of conduct on counter terrorism was agreed in Barcelona. Following that agreement can the Taoiseach say whether any serious view is being taken of the Council of Europe investigation that has accused European governments of silently condoning the practice of abducting suspected terrorists and transporting them? Is any serious view being taken of Amnesty International's open letter to European Heads of Governments which states: "any involvement of member states in such transfers [extraordinary rendition flights as they are called] including the mere act of allowing facilities at airports is equally in breach of international law"?

In the Taoiseach's reply to Deputy Kenny he mentioned that Dr. Rice was clear on behalf of the US Administration on this matter, but my recollection is that Dr. Rice refers to prisoners. She does not refer to the landing of planes used in the transfer of prisoners, empty or otherwise. Can the Taoiseach respond to that? Amnesty International's understanding under international law is that assisting the transport of the planes used, empty or otherwise, is viewed as complicity under international law. Has Dr. Rice been clear, as the Taoiseach stated, not only on prisoners but on the planes that have been identified as involved in this type of activity?

See this speech in context