Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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471. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has held discussions with the US authorities following recent reports of torture methods being utilised by the United States; the content of those discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49357/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I want to reiterate that Ireland condemns, at the highest level, all forms of torture and ill-treatment. We strongly believe that the absolute prohibition of torture is one of the cornerstones of the international human rights framework and we recall that all countries are obligated to comply with this unconditional prohibition and that no exceptional circumstances may be invoked as a justification for torture or any other form of ill-treatment.

I welcome the publication last week of the United States Senate Intelligence Committee’s summary report on its investigation of the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation programme. Ireland does not tolerate and will not tolerate the use of our airspace or airports for any illegal purpose, including torture, rendition or the unauthorised detention of any individual.

I have instructed my officials to approach the US authorities to enquire if this report found any evidence or drew any conclusions in relation to the use of Irish airspace or Irish airports in connection with the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Programme.