Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 33: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of his Department with regarding to the recent Council of Europe report on rendition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25157/06]

Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 53: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his objections to the criticism levied by the Council of Europe on Ireland regarding CIA extraordinary rendition flights and the use of Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25208/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 148: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the criticism levied by the Council of Europe on Ireland regarding CIA extraordinary rendition flights and the use of Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25497/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 53 and 148 together.

I would refer the Deputies to my statement in Dáil Éireann on 13 June 2006, in which I addressed in some detail the most recent Council of Europe report, that of Senator Dick Marty, the rapporteur appointed by the Committee on Legal Affairs of the Parliamentary Assembly.

Despite the pervasive lack of hard evidence contained in Senator Marty's report, it makes for disturbing reading in relation to the details provided of some specific cases in other countries. It confirms why we are right to oppose extraordinary rendition. As regards the specific case of Ireland, however, Senator Marty's report produces absolutely no new evidence which would support allegations that the Government is in any way colluding in the practice.

In addition to the shortcomings of the evidence contained in Senator Marty's report, there is a lack of a clear chain of reasoning: it contains simply some very cursory assertions, including one that Ireland "could be held responsible for collusion" for being a "stopover" for flights involving the unlawful transfer of detainees. I utterly reject this assertion, which seems to be based on a quite implausible and ill-founded analysis of what might conceivably have been possible for us to do.

Moreover, Senator Marty fails to take account of our complete opposition to extraordinary rendition and the categoric assurances we have received that it does not take place through Ireland. To allege collusion without addressing either of those points is quite unfair. I would remind the House that neither Senator Marty, nor anyone acting on his behalf, has approached or addressed a single query in this respect to the Government or to our Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe.

I would reiterate the Government's intention to consider carefully with partners any specific and workable recommendations that may be made by the Council of Europe in this area. I would anticipate that if such recommendations emerge-whether through the Parliamentary Assembly or the Secretary General-they will require coordinated action at a European level if they are to be implemented in an effective manner.