David Norris (Independent)

Yesterday we had an important and balanced debate on the war in Iraq, extraordinary rendition and torture. Will the Leader help the Seanad by pursuing this matter, first, by continuing to monitor the situation, as we did previously, by having rolling debates and, second, by sending the report of yesterday's debate to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern? While the Minister was ably represented in the debate by two Ministers of State, he was not present in the House. It is important that he have a copy of the debate because the House was told he would raise the matter with Condoleezza Rice. A copy of the debate would be a valuable instrument at that meeting.

I would also like a copy of the debate to be sent to the US ambassador. Following yesterday's debate, a television programme on Channel 4 interviewed a victim in this case. An aeroplane which lands regularly at Shannon Airport, of which viewers were shown photographs, was implicated. A Swiss Member of Parliament is establishing a committee to investigate this situation. Denmark has banned the aeroplane, Austrian fighter jets intercepted it and escorted it out of Austrian airspace and Hungary has searched it. We have, as yet, done nothing. There is now a Council of Europe investigation into a particular flight. The registration details of this aeroplane, about which we have complained, its itinerary and the dates of the flights are listed, and Shannon Airport is included in that naming process.

For the first time, this aeroplane, about which we have done nothing, is clearly identified. If the Minister for Foreign Affairs is to raise the matter, it would be important for him to know of the strong feeling on all sides of the House in this regard. The aeroplane is known as the "Guantanamo express". It is a shame that we allow the "Guantanamo express" to pass through our airspace.