Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I join with other voices in the House in welcoming the election of Barack Obama as the first African-American President-designate of the United States. It is an historic victory that is an enormously important step for the people of the United States.

Does the Taoiseach agree the President-elect will have widespread support across the globe for his signalled policy of phased withdrawal of US troops from Iraq? Has the Taoiseach already, in the course of his engagements with the current regime in the United States, or will he, in the advent of the new Administration, impress the Irish people's view as part of that global assent to the effect that this is something the new President should pursue in the early course of his presidency?

The issue of the inspection of flights at Shannon has been raised. All I want to say about that is that it has been reported that the Government will initiate talks with the new Administration. If the Taoiseach is to initiate talks as regards the whole question of the use of flights through Shannon to accommodate extraordinary rendition, at what level will such engagement take place? Is it his intention to initiate talks or are the reports without foundation? What exactly is the position and is it not the case, whatever about the issue of talks, that the Government has within its gift the powers and in my view, the responsibility, to initiate Garda checks of flights through Shannon and that no additional powers or further engagement are required? It has the legal right to carry out such inspections and all that has prevented that happening heretofore is the political will to do it — the Government accepting assurances that had been given heretofore by the Bush Administration. Will the Taoiseach clarify the situation and indicate to the House if he is willing to give the necessary go-ahead for occasional inspections at the very least by gardaí in order to establish the value of the Government's view of the assurances given by the Bush Administration? It is absolutely essential that this is done.

Regarding the contribution on "Morning Ireland" today by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, where he stated the new Administration offered hope of a renewed role by the United Nations, can the Taoiseach indicate how the Government intends to see such a development come into effect?

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