Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 112: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent resolution by the European Parliament expressing concerns about the unregulated use of Irish airports by 147 CIA-operated aircraft and that such use, if involving extraordinary rendition, would breach our military neutrality; his views on a parliamentary inquiry as sought by the European Parliament; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8876/07]

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 131: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs when or if the Government plans to institute an Oireachtas inquiry, as recommended by the European Parliament, to review Ireland's laws, procedures and practices in granting overflight or landing clearances to foreign aircraft, both State and civilian, in order to identify the way this or other states may have facilitated or participated in, directly or indirectly, the violation of international law; if he will make solid recommendations for reform and the implementation of such reforms; and if such an inquiry is not planned, the reason for same. [10463/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 131 together.

I have made clear on a number of previous occasions the Government's disappointment with the content of the Report of the Temporary Committee of the European Parliament on extraordinary rendition. In particular, the Committee's figure of 147 allegedly suspicious flights is grossly inflated, as shown by the identification of only 3 specific flights by Senator Dick Marty as part of the Council of Europe's separate investigations.

The Report's call for the Government "to agree to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the use of Irish territory as part of the CIA rendition circuit" ignores the fact that it is for the Oireachtas to decide its own agenda. It also ignores the fact that Seanad Éireann has on three separate occasions-most recently on 31 January-voted not to institute a specific enquiry. These issues have been extensively debated in the Houses of the Oireachtas, where both Houses have passed motions supporting the Government's policy in this area: the Seanad, most recently, on 31 January, the Dáil on 14 June 2006.

I regret that the Report did not take the opportunity to look in a more practical way at ways in which extraordinary rendition, which I once again condemn in the strongest terms, might be prevented or deterred in future. I have repeatedly highlighted the need to examine the regulation of aviation. It is with this objective that my Department is exploring with partners in the EU and in the International Civil Aviation Organisation the issues I have raised in this regard. These discussions are at an early stage, but nonetheless I believe that they have the potential to be productive. It is clear that for any reforms in this area to be effective, they will require to be implemented at the European level, at least. The question of extraordinary rendition is unrelated to Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality.