Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he is taking to ensure that future flights through Shannon Airport are not carrying prisoners to places where they would be at risk of torture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38368/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to the replies by my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Questions Nos. 167 and 263 of 30 November and 6 December 2005, respectively.

I also refer to the confirmation given last week by US Secretary of State Rice to my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, of the assurances that had previously been received from the US authorities, namely, that prisoners had not been transported through Irish airports or airspace, nor would they be, without permission from the Irish authorities. I understand no such request for permission has ever been received.

Both my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and I have called on any person with specific evidence that Shannon Airport or any other Irish airport is being used for these purposes to share this information with the Garda authorities, who would be responsible for investigating such matters. Such an investigation could include, where appropriate, the inspection of an aircraft, although international law would prohibit the forcible entry of the Garda Síochána onto foreign military-State aircraft.