Calls for inquiry into use of airports by CIA
All CIA aircraft must be banned from Ireland until the Dáil carries out an inquiry into alleged rendition flights, the Labour Party will claim tonight.
A Seanad motion tabled by four senators will demand an Oireachtas inquiry into whether terrorist hostages are being secretly transported through Shannon Airport.
Last week’s report by a European Parliament committee also called for an Oireachtas investigation into the CIA’s alleged use of Irish territory for rendition flights.
The Government has persistently denied any illegal practices at the mid-west airport and has cited high-level assurances from US authorities.
Last year, a proposal for an Seanad inquiry into the issue was voted down.
Tonight’s motion tabled by Senators Brendan Ryan, Kathleen O’Meara, Derek McDowell, Joanna Tuffy and Michael Mulcahy also states that the acceptance of diplomatic assurances is an inadequate way to defend human rights.
The text of the motion says: “This motion calls on the government to comply with the European Parliament committee’s request to set up an Oireachtas investigation into the manner in which the state has dealt with the issue of rendition at domestic, European and international level and, pending the outcome of such an investigation, calls for an immediate ban on the use of Irish airports and airspace by all CIA aircraft.”
