Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

I have been reading a report published by Mr. Dick Marty in June 2006. He refers to the human dimension of rendition. He considers the human impact in two ways, the practice of preparing a detainee to be deported and the grave, long-lasting psychological damage inflicted by extraordinary rendition. He refers to many different types of victims of the process but the methodology of treatment is the same. As part of the European Convention on Human Rights we have signed up to the right not to be tortured or subjected to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. A member of the CIA describes rendition as involving shackling and restraining the prisoner. Those being transported are subjected to a 20-minute take out by being rendered immobile, deprived of sensory stimuli and having clothing cut from their bodies with knives or scissors. I can hardly bring myself to mention some of the material in the report. The person may be forced to wear a nappy and will not know where he is going or his fate on arrival.

The impact on the people and their families is devastating. The symptoms include demoralisation, flashbacks, panic attacks and deep psychological scars that prevent re-engaging with society. The report includes specific examples of this.

As an Irish citizen I cannot stand over this behaviour being directly or indirectly facilitated by the State. I do not understand how the Government can stand over this behaviour. It is on the defensive but should consider a new approach and promise the House to follow the approach outlined by Senator White. The Government does not like what the Council of Europe or the European Parliament has stated but its only response is to describe it as a Labour Party plot within European institutions. The Government should address the problems highlighted by these institutions, as suggested by Senator White. This was the subject of the last Labour Party motion, in which we requested that a Seanad committee be set up to review laws to ensure rendition is not facilitated. Instead of going on the defensive, the Government will eventually have to act. It cannot continue to dismiss reports and argue that they are plots or untrue. There must be action on the issue.

From the beginning the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and bodies such as the Irish Human Rights Commission have indicated that accepting diplomatic assurances is not enough. In accepting diplomatic assurances we are not doing what we should be doing as a State to ensure human rights are protected. We must go further and examine our laws and practices in this respect. The Government should take this under consideration, and that is the purpose of the Labour Party motion and the highlighted issue as a whole.

It is time the Minister of State took the lead of his colleague, Senator White, and responded to these reports, putting in place measures to ensure we are not in any way complicit in the rendition process, as we are currently.