Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Transport if aircraft (details supplied) which are alleged to have been used by the CIA in the process of extraordinary renditions have ever landed at any airport here or at Casement Aerodrome; if those aircraft were examined by the State's security forces to determine if the UN Convention on Torture or Article 3 of section 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights was breached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34922/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, aircraft may come into Ireland for technical stops, such as for refuelling purposes, without notifying the Department of Transport, and no notification about these aircraft was received by my Department. As I indicated in the House previously, the aircraft registered N379P and N8068V have landed at Shannon on a number of occasions. I understand that the aircraft N4476S has not landed at Shannon, Dublin or Cork. No examinations have been carried out on these aircraft by my Department. Examinations by the State's security forces are a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Landings at Casement Aerodrome are a matter for the Minister for Defence.

Furthermore, as I have said in the House on previous occasions, I understand that the US authorities have confirmed to the Department of Foreign Affairs that prisoners are not being transported through Irish airports. The US also confirmed that it would not seek to use Irish airports for this purpose in the future without seeking the authorisation of the Irish authorities.