Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

No action has been taken under Article 16 provisions of the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation on the searching of planes suspected of involvement in renditions, troops or arms transportation. While the Chicago Convention applies to civil rather than military aircraft, the US has on several occasions commissioned private companies for the transport of troops and arms and to conduct rendition operations. In 2006, Amnesty International highlighted the fact the CIA was hiring civilian aircraft for military purposes to bypass the legislation and regulations in Shannon Airport. Does the Government have any intention of addressing this? Does the Minister not think it is a bit outrageous that a 79-year-old woman, Margaretta D'Arcy, has to go on the runway to highlight the fact that the Government is not doing what it is supposed to do?

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