Paddy McHugh (Galway East, Independent)

I declare an interest, I speak as a member of the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe. In that capacity I regret that the Marty report is being given much more credence in Ireland than it deserves and specifically I object to its conclusion, claim or innuendo that Ireland is guilty of collusion in extraordinary rendition. There is absolutely no shred of evidence in his report to support such a claim. In my view Senator Marty has undermined substantially the credibility of his report by making such unfounded, unsubstantiated claims in regard to Ireland.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe in commending the Marty report stated, "Senator Marty has made some serious allegations about the involvement of several European countries". By that phrase the credibility of the report is further undermined. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe is commending a report simply because it makes serious allegations, not because it has come up with evidence or proof of wrongdoing. I regret the assertion in the Marty report on Ireland. Such a charge is reckless in the extreme, recognising the instability of some of the elements involved in international terrorism and how they might react to such an assertion.

While I welcome the debate on extraordinary rendition in the Labour Party's Private Members' time, because of the unfounded claims made in the Marty report in regard to Ireland it is unfortunate the Labour Party has used it as a basis for Private Members' time. By so doing a certain credence is being bestowed on it that it does not deserve.

I have listened to the Minister for Foreign Affairs speak on behalf of the Government on this matter and I accept the assurances given by him on extraordinary rendition.

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