Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his policy with regard to the use of Shannon Airport by the US military for the transport of al-Qaeda suspects and prisoners; if his attention has been drawn to media reports that a US jet used to abduct and transport such suspects landed in Shannon Airport three times in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2767/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of various reports claiming that an aircraft which has in the past landed at Shannon Airport was used in December 2001 by US authorities for the transportation of al-Qaeda suspects from Sweden to Egypt. My understanding of the articles is that they do not allege that any stops were made in Shannon on that particular occasion, nor do they offer any proof that prisoners have been transported through Shannon by the US authorities. The aircraft referred to by the Deputy is a civilian registered aircraft. The regulation of the activities of civilian aircraft is primarily a matter for the Minister for Transport, who made inquiries in the matter and outlined his findings to this house in replies to parliamentary questions on 7 October 2004, 19 October 2004, 2 November 2004 and 23 November 2004.

I would take the opportunity to reiterate my previous statements to the House that the Government has no information to indicate that prisoners are being transported through Irish airports to and from Guantanamo or elsewhere. The transport of prisoners through Irish airports should only take place in accordance with Irish law. This has been made clear to the US authorities. For their part, the US authorities have confirmed that Irish airports are not used for this purpose and that they would not seek to use Irish airports for this purpose in the future without seeking the authorisation of the Irish authorities.