THE GOVERNMENT is not contemplating the resettlement in Ireland of any exonerated Guantánamo detainees, the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, has said.
In answer to a parliamentary question from Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, Mr Ahern acknowledged there had been "some discussions" with US authorities regarding detainees who have been cleared for release from the facility.
Officials from the Department of Justice have also had informal contacts with interested parties and lawyers representing one of the detainees, Uzbek national Oybek Jamoldinivich Jabbarov, Mr Ahern said.
"It has been made clear to all concerned that Ireland is not contemplating the relocation here of any person in this group," the Minister added.
About 50 of the exonerated detainees at Guantánamo cannot be returned to their countries of origin due to the risk of torture or other mistreatment. These inmates come from countries with poor human rights records such as China, Libya, Algeria and Uzbekistan.
Their predicament poses a major challenge to US president-elect Barack Obama who has indicated closing Guantánamo will be a priority for his administration.
Mr Jabbarov's Boston-based lawyer Michael Mone said he remains optimistic that his client will be resettled.
"I'm hopeful that come January, with the new administration, there will be a new air of co-operation between the US and Europe, and the Irish Government will seize the opportunity to make a humanitarian gesture to the Obama administration and help close Guantánamo," he told The Irish Times.
Mr Mone describes his client, a 30-year-old farmer who was living with his pregnant wife, infant son and elderly mother in Afghanistan when he was captured in 2001, as a "perfect fit" for Ireland. "He has told me over and over again that he wants to be settled in a country that is free, safe and democratic."
In May Mr Mone told a congressional sub-committee that his client is "more Borat than he is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed", the latter a reference to the man accused of orchestrating the 9/11 attacks. He believes Mr Jabbarov was handed over to US forces for a bounty.
Amnesty International's Irish branch has lobbied the Government to take in one or more of the exonerated Guantánamo inmates, arguing that Ireland could lead by example in being the first EU state to accept a detainee who is not one of its citizens. So far Albania is the only country to have done so.
Colm O'Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, said: "While we're obviously disappointed we will continue to engage constructively on how Ireland can assist in closing Guantánamo Bay detention centre."