Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

——and whether the issues could be dealt with differently. That was the consistent position of the Government at the time. Deputy Gormley seems to have forgotten that in the meantime a mandate from the United Nations Security Council was unanimously adopted and that it requires member states of the United Nations to facilitate and assist the UN forces in the normal way in carrying out their mandate. We are not in a position to simply tear up or reject that mandate.

With regard to military flights, Ireland, as a member of the United Nations, has an obligation to assist the Security Council in the proper implementation of a council resolution which mandates the presence of a number of countries' armed forces in Iraq. Whatever about the wisdom of the original intervention, on which the Government had a consistent position, the position is that there is a UN mandate for military flights passing through Shannon and it would be wrong for the State to say it will tear up a mandate agreed unanimously by the Security Council.

On rendition flights, the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I have personally been assured at the highest levels by US authorities——

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