Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the case of a person (details supplied), as well as other similar cases recently documented, who passed through Shannon Airport as part of this extraordinary rendition to Guantánamo Bay detention centre; if these testimonies prove that Ireland, Irish airspace and Irish airports are implicated in actions which are torture by another name; the implications for Ireland in this regard in view of the illegality of such torture; if in view of this material, it is proposed to end this tacit approval of such actions by the Irish Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38384/08]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in accordance with its obligations under international law, the Government will supply such information as is deemed necessary by their legal representatives of individuals prosecuting a case or cases on the basis of breaches of such international conventions as the international Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and its related protocols. [38385/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 159 together.

The issue of extraordinary rendition has been raised on numerous occasions in this House. As has been made repeatedly clear, the Government is completely opposed to the practice of the extraordinary rendition of prisoners.

I wish to reiterate at the outset that none of the various investigations into allegations of extraordinary rendition have revealed any evidence, or even resulted in a specific allegation, that any person has on any occasion been subjected to extraordinary rendition through Ireland, including in the case mentioned by the Deputy.

The Government has received specific assurances from the US authorities that such prisoners have not been transferred through Irish territory, nor would they be, without our permission. These assurances have been confirmed at the highest level, including by Secretary of State Rice to my predecessor as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D. and by President Bush to the former Taoiseach. The assurances are of a clear and categoric nature, relating to facts and circumstances within the full knowledge and control of the US Government.

The Government take very seriously the fulfilment of the State's obligations under international agreements to which it is a party, including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and will respond appropriately to any relevant requests made to it.

The Government has established a Cabinet Committee on Aspects of International Human Rights. As part of its remit, the Committee has reviewed the Programme for Government commitments in relation to our opposition to extraordinary rendition. The Committee has agreed that early contact should be made with the new US administration to seek a clear statement of intent that extraordinary rendition would cease and would not resume during the new President's term of office. Commitments are also being sought in regard to the closure of Guantanamo Bay and to the prohibition of intensive interrogation techniques such as water-boarding, which are internationally considered to constitute torture. I have asked our Ambassador in Washington to follow up on this as a matter of urgency.

With a view to strengthening as necessary the legislative provisions, the Committee is also to review the statutory powers currently available to the civil and police authorities regarding the search and inspection of aircraft, in the context of the obligations on the State under the Chicago Convention.