Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the implications of the most recent EU-US summit text and in particular the declaration of an intention to intensify their efforts promoting peace, human rights and democracy worldwide and to strengthen co-operation on the issue of confronting global challenges, including security on future foreign policy decisions of this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25200/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the EU-US Summit; the discussions which took place on the issue of CIA extraordinary rendition flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25206/06]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the EU/US Summit in Vienna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25336/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 103 and 149 together.

The EU-US Summit, which took place in Vienna on 21 June 2006, provided an opportunity for both sides to underline the strength of the EU-US relationship in terms of trade and investment but also increasingly as partners in handling difficult situations around the globe. The Summit included discussions on, inter alia, foreign policy, energy security, economy and trade. The promotion of democracy was the main theme in the foreign policy discussion with a particular focus on Iran and the Middle East. There was also a substantive exchange of views on Guantánamo. Discussion in relation to extraordinary rendition concentrated on the need to continue a dialogue that is underway between legal experts from the EU Member States and the US on the legal and human rights issues arising from efforts to combat terrorism.

In the Summit Declaration, both the EU and the US agreed to intensify efforts to promote peace, democracy, freedom, the rule of law and respect for human rights in the world to make it more secure, safe and prosperous for all mankind. The EU and US undertook to implement international obligations in respect of global challenges such as measures to combat terrorism, non-proliferation, natural disasters and pandemics, whilst also ensuring that human rights law, refugee law and international humanitarian law are complied with fully.

Ireland was fully involved in negotiations on the Summit Declaration. The broad themes set out in the Declaration represent an implicit consensus between the EU and the US and are fully in line with our national approach. The outcome of the Summit represents the continuing improvement of the transatlantic relationship which has been evident since the Dromoland Castle Summit held under the last Irish Presidency of the EU in June 2004.