Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the airports designated with port of entry status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39442/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The airports listed hereunder have been prescribed by order (SI 57 of 2004 Immigration Act 2004 (Approved Ports) Regulations) by the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to be approved ports for non-nationals arriving by air from outside the State pursuant to Section 6(2) and 20 of the Immigration Act 2004:

Carrickfinn Airport;

Connaught Airport;

Cork Airport;

Dublin Airport;

Farranfore Airport;

Galway Airport;

Shannon Airport;

Sligo Airport;

Waterford Regional Airport.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the policy changes which have taken place or are proposed to take place as outlined in a newspaper article (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39192/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware there are a number of commitments in the Programme for Government related to extraordinary rendition.

Insofar as they fall within the responsibility of my Department there has been regular communication between me and my Department acting on my behalf with the Garda Commissioner relating to the implementation of the Programme's commitment in relation to extraordinary rendition. The Garda Commissioner has assured me that he has sufficient resources to implement the commitment, that the commitment is being implemented and is kept under constant review so as to reflect best practice.

To that end the Gardaí remain ready to take whatever action is open to them under the law in relation to any allegations involving extraordinary rendition. While they have no role in relation to the inspection of military aircraft (which enjoy sovereign immunity), they do have search powers in relation to aircraft where evidence is available which would enable such powers to be exercised in accordance with the law. In addition the Cabinet Committee on Aspects of International Human Rights is reviewing the statutory powers currently available to the civil and police authorities in this jurisdiction in relation to search and inspection of aircraft (including the Air Navigational and Transport Acts which as the Deputy will be aware, are not the responsibility of my Department). It is the case that the Gardaí have fully investigated a number of allegations of unlawful activity at Irish airports and files have been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecution in some of these cases, although no prosecution was directed. In the other cases no evidence to substantiate the allegations was disclosed.

I can also inform the Deputy that there is a comprehensive programme of relevant and appropriate human rights training in place within An Garda Síochána. In an effort to ensure continued compliance with the Programme for Government Commitment to the highest possible standards last July the Garda Commissioner requested the Deputy Commissioner, Operations, to again review the training and search regime in this area. It is expected that review, which is having specific regard to the terms of the Programme for Government commitment, will be finalised shortly.