Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The policy of military neutrality pursued by the Government is one that exists in words only - witness the discussion at the European Council about increased co-operation with NATO or, most importantly, the very regular use of Shannon Airport to transport US military soldiers to the Middle East to pursue US war aims. I do not see how that is compatible with a supposedly neutral foreign policy. Does the Government have any intention of changing the use of Shannon Airport?

In particular, I wish to raise a question about a particular aircraft in Shannon Airport on 1 July. Two issues arise here. One is the use of Shannon to transport troops but the other was previously in terms of rendition. An aircraft was at Shannon Airport that was previously identified as one of the CIA planes used in the extraordinary rendition programme by the European Union TDIP committee that investigated it, that is, Learjet 35, No. N71PG. Would the Minister be aware of anything in regard to that? Would he be willing to investigate that?

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