Fine Gael's spokesman on foreign affairs wants the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to appear before the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee to explain their contradictory claims over whether Ireland has been used for extraordinary rendition.
Billy Timmins said yesterday that Dermot Ahern and the IHRC should explain whether Ireland fully complies with the Constitution and the international human rights conventions to which it is a party and, if not, what further steps should be taken.
This follows a report last week by the IHRC on extraordinary rendition, the process whereby terrorism suspects are arrested by US agents and brought to third countries where they may be tortured. The report said diplomatic assurances provided by the US government were not sufficient to ensure Ireland was not a transit point for flights involving extraordinary rendition.
It also called for inspections of US aircraft suspected of involvement in the practice when they land at Shannon.
"Fine Gael is totally opposed to the practice of extraordinary rendition," said Mr Timmins. "The Taoiseach has stated that 'there is no evidence of people, aeroplanes or anything else to do with extraordinary rendition at Shannon airport'.
"The report of the Irish Human Rights Commission states that 'it is also known that US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) aircraft involved in extraordinary rendition have landed and refuelled at Shannon airport, Ireland'.
"The Government bases its assertion on assurances it has received from the US administration and on some inspections carried out following reports from the general public. States are required to take 'steps of due diligence' to avoid a threat to an individual."
Mr Timmins said the hearing at the Oireachtas committee should also discuss whether the IHRC is alleging that extraordinary rendition actually took place through Shannon, or whether aircraft that had been used for the practice elsewhere flew through Shannon and were not involved in the practice at that time.
He said the committee should also establish if Ireland does not comply with the relevant international human rights requirements, and what steps it should take to do so.