Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to conduct an investigation along the lines of those being carried out in Sweden, Spain and Iceland to determine whether CIA prisoner flights have used Shannon Airport, as indicated by a map of alleged CIA flight routes published on the BBC website on 22 November 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37136/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The situation remains as set out in my replies to several previous questions, most recently Question No. 374 of 22 November 2005.

The Government has on many occasions made clear to the US authorities that it would be illegal to transit prisoners for rendition purposes through Irish territory without the express permission of the Irish authorities, acting in accordance with Irish and international law. The US authorities, for their part, have confirmed that they have not done so and that they would not do so without seeking the permission of the Irish authorities. No request for such authorisation has been received from the US authorities. I will raise this issue again when I meet the US Secretary of State, Ms Condoleezza Rice, in Washington tomorrow.

The Government will continue to follow the long-standing practice whereby details supplied to the Department of Foreign Affairs in this area by the US authorities are accepted in good faith as being accurate. However, if anyone has credible evidence that Shannon Airport, or indeed any other Irish airport, has been used for the purposes described by the Deputy, this should, as has been made clear by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, be shared with the Garda authorities. I need hardly emphasise that any such development would be viewed with the most serious concern by the Government.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the report An Act of Free Choice commissioned by the Dutch Parliament; if the United Nations will be urged, in view of the findings, that the Act of Free Choice was a sham and if responsibility will be taken up and a timetable set for a UN-supervised referendum to enable the West Papuan persons to exercise their right to self-determination. [37238/05]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the recent publication of the report An Act of Free Choice commissioned by the Dutch Parliament, the Indonesian authorities will stop the practice of arbitrarily arresting persons for their non-violent political activities and ensure that all West Papuan persons have the right to freedom of expression and association, without fear of harassment, arbitrary arrest, imprisonment, torture and ill-treatment, and unconditionally release all West Papuan prisoners detained or convicted solely for the non-violent expression of their views. [37239/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together.

I am aware of the report entitled An Act of Free Choice, published in the Netherlands on 15 November by the Institute of Netherlands History. The overall position is that members of the European Union accept that Papua forms part of Indonesia. The Dutch Government, for instance, in responding to the report in the Netherlands' Parliament, made clear that this is its position.

The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council has adopted conclusions on Indonesia, which reiterated the EU's attachment to a united, democratic, stable and prosperous Indonesia and also reiterated the EU's respect for the territorial integrity of Indonesia. The Council encouraged the Indonesian Government to seek peaceful solutions in conflict and potential conflict areas. It welcomed the statement by President Yudhoyono that he intended to implement a special autonomy law for Papua and Aceh.

The Government, therefore, believes that the most productive approach to dealing with the human rights situation in Papua is through dialogue with the Government of Indonesia. We will continue to urge full implementation of the special autonomy law for Papua which provides for special autonomy while respecting the territorial integrity of Indonesia. Under the law, a Papuan provincial government would have control over all matters other than international relations, defence, monetary policy, religion and the supreme court. Papua would be able to conduct international relations in so far as they related to trade, investment, technology and culture. Papua would also have its own flag, coat-of-arms and anthem, but as cultural symbols rather than as symbols of sovereignty.

Ireland and our EU partners continue to monitor the political situation in Indonesia and human rights issues are regularly raised in discussions with the Indonesian authorities. Together with our EU partners, the Government will continue to take every opportunity to raise concerns regarding Papua in contacts with the Indonesian authorities.