Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 4: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to recent revelations from leaked US Cables which indicate that the Government misled the public in relation to the use of Shannon airport by US aircraft involved in rendition flights, if he was aware that Shannon airport was being used for extraordinary rendition and the action, if any, that was taken [3161/11]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The issue of extraordinary rendition has been raised on numerous occasions in this House. As has been made repeatedly clear, the Government is completely opposed to the practice of the extraordinary rendition of prisoners.

Immediately following the first reports suggesting that the US was practising extraordinary rendition, the Government demanded and received specific assurances from the US authorities that such prisoners had not been transferred through Irish territory, nor would they be, without our permission. These assurances were confirmed at the highest political level. They are of a clear and categoric nature, relating to facts and circumstances within the full control of the US Government.

I am satisfied, as previous Ministers have been, that it is appropriate for the Government to rely fully on these assurances. We would not normally make reference to unauthorised documents such as those referred to in the recent commentary on this issue.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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The documents in question, if true, raise serious questions about the record of this House, as presented by the former Ministers for Foreign Affairs and, in particular, Justice and Law Reform. In the cables between the US ambassador and Administration the Minister is quoted as believing three rendition flights landed and refuelled at Shannon Airport. When we questioned the Minister he denied having such knowledge or having formed that opinion. Did the former Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Deputy Ahern mislead the Dáil? If he did not, on what basis did he form the belief that only three rendition flights landed? Why would an Irish Minister ask for the permission of the US Administration to search its planes if he believed that a crime was committed?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It would be normal practice in question relating to the Minister for Justice and Law reform to be put to the successor Minister.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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There is a certain irony in any Member of the House putting on the record categoric criticisms of successive US Administrations on this issue and depending on a political response on the basis of a document, the provenance of which is probably questionable, from WikiLeaks. We can have it one way or the other. We can either accept the assurances, which are categoric and on the record, from the highest political levels or something of a lesser degree.

It seems that the Deputy is citing the leaked US cables as if they were somehow gospel but will not accept the suggestions made on the record. We have always opposed extraordinary rendition. That has been the view of all sides in the House and will continue to be the case. We have always sought to ensure that Ireland was not involved in it and all of the evidence we have is that Ireland has never been involved in it. All of the categorical assurances from the United States at the highest political level have supported that view.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I am not singling out one Minister because there was a series of them. When we started this debate the former Minister, Michael McDowell, was the relevant Minister. Deputy Martin was Minister for Foreign Affairs during the period in question. The Minister of State did not answer my question. Why would an Irish Minister seek permission from the US authorities to carry out a lawful action, namely, search planes in Shannon airport if he or she believed a crime was committed?

I am not suggesting that WikiLeaks or the cables are gospel. At the time we asked questions and the then Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Justice and Law Reform said they did not believe any extraordinary rendition flight went through Shannon airport. However, it seems that they had formed a belief which they were willing to share the US authorities but not the House.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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They were afraid they would get caught.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The basis of the Deputy's question is that he attributes credibility to the WikiLeaks document.

If Members have not read the Wikileaks document, it is interesting in that one of the authorities quoted on this is the Leader of Seanad Éireann, a member of my party.

As I said earlier to the Deputy, it is not credible to suggest that we could give more credibility to the conspiracy theory he is propagating here. All of the evidence is contrary to his assertions.