Taoiseach defends stance on rendition flights
Wednesday, 12 December 2007 13:06The Taoiseach has told the Dáil that yesterday's Irish Human Rights Commission report fails to do justice to the Government's activity on the issue of extraordinary rendition.
Bertie Ahern was asked by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore whether the Government accepted the report.
Mr Gilmore also asked the Taoiseach whether he endorsed the recommendations and what action the Government intends to take to implement those recommendations.
The Taoiseach said that the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Transport would examine the recommendations in the report.
He added that both ministers have already made the point that there are serious questions over the effectiveness of the inspection regime and he said the Government has explained that in detail to the commission.
Mr Ahern also said no other European country has such a regime.
He insisted that there was absolutely no evidence that any people, planes or anything to do with extraordinary rendition, had landed in Shannon.
He added that several reports have now examined and found there is no validation to the claims.
Earlier Mr Ahern had pointed out that the Government was totally opposed to the practice of extraordinary rendition and that gardaí had full powers to search civil aircraft.
