Dáil debates

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

4:00 pm

Photo of Joe HigginsJoe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

I would like to ask the Taoiseach about foreign policy issues that pertain to the United States. When the Taoiseach met President Obama, did they discuss the ongoing use of Shannon Airport by American war planes on their way to or from war zones? Did they discuss the fact that despite President Obama's alleged revulsion about secret renditions and the holding of people in detention centres without trial, he is continuing to implement such a policy? Was the Shannon issue raised in any way? Did the Taoiseach raise with President Obama the whole question of renditions, which has not been mentioned publicly for some time, and whether Shannon is still used in that regard?

I would also like to ask about a broader foreign policy issue. Did the Taoiseach have an opportunity to raise the use by the US of drones and Hellfire missiles against targeted individuals in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen? Did he mention the fact that civilians, including family members of the targeted individuals, are routinely massacred and killed during such operations? He could have referred to the brutal massacres by civilian-backed militias in Syria and to the unspeakable atrocities that are being committed against innocent Syrian people by its government. The United States contradicts itself by condemning such actions while endorsing the killing of innocent civilians as a result of its military tactics. I would be interested to know whether the Taoiseach had an opportunity to raise those issues from an international human rights perspective.

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