Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has communicated to the new United States administration his opposition to extraordinary rendition, the detention facility at Guantánamo and intensive interrogation techniques such as water-boarding which are internationally considered to constitute torture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6420/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's opposition to extraordinary rendition and to the use of intensive interrogation techniques such as water-boarding, which are internationally considered to constitute torture, and its support for the early closure of the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, have been made clear on many occasions. This position was communicated by our Embassy in Washington to the incoming US administration during the transition period following last November's election. Since the inauguration of President Obama it has been re-confirmed to the US Embassy here. The issues involved were most recently discussed at a meeting between officials of my Department and of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and a senior State Department representative in Dublin on 9 February.

On 22 January, President Obama signed three Executive Orders and one Presidential Memorandum in relation to the detention policy of the US and related matters. I have warmly welcomed his decision to close the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay within a year. I also welcome provisions in the Executive Order entitled 'Ensuring Lawful Interrogations' which relate to the prohibition of interrogation methods incompatible with the Geneva Conventions, to the expeditious closure of CIA facilities, and to the need to ensure access to all prisoners by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Taken together, these measures represent an important step towards meeting our concerns regarding Guantánamo.

The President has also established a Special Task Force which as part of its remit will 'study and evaluate the practices of transferring individuals to other nations in order to ensure that such practices comply with the domestic law , international obligations and policies of the United States and do not result in the transfer of individuals to other nations to face torture or otherwise for the purpose, or with the effect, of undermining or circumventing the commitments or obligations of the United States to ensure the humane treatment of individuals in its custody or control'.

While we would prefer to see a clear renunciation of the practice of rendition in any circumstances, the Special Task Force's terms of reference include some clearly very positive elements. We will continue to follow developments, including the eventual findings of the Special Task Force, carefully and will convey any further views to the Administration as necessary.