Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Stephen Grey, a New York Times correspondent who gave evidence to the committee, stated that it was highly unlikely that Shannon would be used in any way, shape or form. That was supported by Tom Cloonan, an Irish defence expert, who stated that he had many discussions with people involved in Guantánamo who said quite clearly that Shannon was never used for extraordinary rendition. The call I made regarding the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation is based on this. When I examined the issue closely, it defied my logic that aeroplanes should be allowed to fly in under the convention of 1944 giving very little information on what or whom they are carrying to the authorities where they are landing or transiting.

The Deputy referred to City of Derry Airport, whose gesture was pyrrhic. Extraordinary rendition is banned in any airport in the Republic, private or public; we do not and will not allow it. The Garda Síochána has received six complaints from members of the public, including Members, some of them present as I speak. On no occasion has it received any evidence to warrant an investigation, but when an allegation was made by someone known to the Deputy, who stated that an unmarked Boeing aircraft had been observed at Shannon on 23 or 24 November, that complaint was investigated. It was established that the aircraft in question was owned by a non-commercial, Dubai state organisation and was being used to transport race horses to that country.

One famous jet was supposed to be rendering people around the world in an extraordinary manner. In fact, it was on a golfing trip up to Derry, Sligo and a number of other airports.

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