Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is important that we have accuracy on this issue. On 11 September the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Nils MuiŽnieks, issued a statement in which he criticised certain governments which had been unwilling to establish truth and accountability in regard to extraordinary renditions carried out by the CIA in Europe between 2000 and 2006. The reference to Ireland was made in a different part of the report, as one of 14 countries which, Mr. MuiŽnieks said, had still to account fully for their co-operation with what he described as the unlawful US programme.

I have two points to make in this regard. First, this claim is at variance with the 2006 position wherein Ireland was asked by the Council of Europe to clarify its position in this regard and its response was accepted by the Council. Second, to remove any doubt, this country does not and will not co-operate with unlawful activity by any other country in respect of our airports or airspace. If there is specific information which we need to follow up, we will do so.

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