Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to instructions being issued to An Garda Síochána since 2004 that there was or is a policy not to search suspected rendition flights at Shannon Airport.. [33654/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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To date, ten complaints concerning allegations that rendition flights were transiting through Shannon Airport have been received from members of the public in the past five years which have been subject of investigation by An Garda Síochána. No evidence of rendition was disclosed in any of the investigations and as a result there were no prosecutions.

All complaints of this nature are dealt with in line with the advices provided by the Attorney General / Director of Public Prosecutions.

An Garda Síochána are fully committed to investigate all alleged breaches of the criminal law including alleged offences involving the use of aircraft at Shannon Airport.

There are statutory powers of search and entry bestowed on the Garda Siochána under various legislative provisions. However, these powers may only be exercised in circumstances where a member of An Garda Síochána reasonably suspects that an offence has occurred. The mere assertion of wrongdoing by a member of the general public is clearly insufficient in this regard. In the circumstances, there is no basis for the suggestion in the Deputy's question.