Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is no evidence that any persons were transited through Shannon Airport for the purposes of extraordinary rendition or that any persons involved in the practice transited through the airport. What the reports referred to and what the recent report from the Open Society Justice Initiative refers to was the belief that certain commercial aircraft, which it believed were used for extraordinary rendition purposes elsewhere, stopped at Shannon Airport. To put the issue in context, more than 1,700 commercial aircraft passed through Shannon Airport in the period in question. There is nothing wrong with commercial aircraft coming through Shannon Airport - we all wish more would do so.

The Deputy asked about assurances. We must be clear that if prisoners are to be transported through Shannon Airport or any other Irish airport, the relevant authorities must seek and obtain permission from the Irish Government. Under no circumstances will the Government grant permission for the transport of prisoners who are subject to extraordinary rendition. That is the clear position of the Government and I give that assurance to the Deputy and House.

See this speech in context