Minister rejects claim on Shannon in report

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has clashed with the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) over claims that the United States has used Irish airports for "extraordinary rendition" of terrorist suspects.

However, the Green Party last night backed the IHRC position.

Mr Ahern accused the commission of failing to do justice to the Government's position on extraordinary rendition and of giving more credence to a self-appointed "activist group" than to the unqualified assurances of the democratically elected government of the United States.

He was responding to a commission review which maintained that diplomatic assurances from the US government that extraordinary rendition flights do not pass through Shannon were not sufficient for Ireland to meet its human rights obligations.

The Green Party welcomed the report into what it termed "the CIA's apparent use of Ireland's airports for extraordinary renditions of prisoners suspected to be involved in terrorism".

The party's foreign affairs spokesman, Ciarán Cuffe, said his party would raise the issues contained in the report with its Government partners as part of the continued implementation of the programme for government agreed last June.

"I believe that the inspection of any aircraft that has been involved in rendition in the past should be considered. In my opinion, the previous usage of these aircraft in such circumstances may provide sufficient grounds for their inspection if they land on Irish soil," he said.

By contrast, Mr Ahern insisted no evidence had been produced that any person has ever been subject to extraordinary rendition through Ireland and he said this had been acknowledged by IHRC president Maurice Manning in a submission to the European Parliament.

"I am very disappointed that, despite the lengthy dialogue that we have had, the review itself fails to reflect adequately the extent to which the Government have been active on the issue of extraordinary rendition both domestically and on the international stage. It also fails to do justice to the Government's position on the main areas of difference between us."

Mr Ahern said the report contained no new information or specific allegations that rendition was taking place through Ireland and the Government was confident that under international law it was fully entitled to rely on the categoric and absolute assurances secured from the US government at the highest level that they have not engaged in extraordinary rendition through Ireland.

He added that the Garda Síochána already had full powers to search civil aircraft of the type alleged to have been involved. They had investigated a number of allegations and found no basis on which to proceed.

"Over the past two years, my department has had extensive dialogue with the IHRC. During that time, both my officials and I have repeatedly made clear the Government's total opposition to the practice of extraordinary rendition anywhere," he said.

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times