Ahern and Rabbitte clash over US use of Shannon

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern insisted yesterday that Shannon airport had never been used for CIA rendition flights.

"The US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and the authorities have given repeated, clear and explicit assurances face-to-face with the Minister for Foreign Affairs acting on the Government's behalf, no later than the period prior to Christmas, that no prisoners have been transferred through Irish airports." Mr Ahern said that assurances from the US were "unqualified, straightforward".

He said the Government was completely opposed to the practice of extraordinary rendition through Irish territory. "We are wholly opposed to torture or any breaches of international law under any of the conventions." Mr Ahern said that the Human Rights Commission had written to him, and discussions had taken place at Government level.

The matter was raised by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte who said there was acute concern about what might be happening as a result of the Americans being facilitated at Shannon in the process of "extraordinary rendition".

"Yet, all we can find out from our Government is that they have diplomatic assurances to the effect that 'nothing untoward' is happening.

"How do we know that 'nothing untoward' is happening? More and more of our citizens are asking: does our Government want to know?"

Mr Rabbitte said that a State watchdog, established by the Government, had said that reliance on diplomatic assurances was not sufficient to protect against the risk of torture and other forms of ill-treatment. The UN commissioner had made the same statement, while the Court of Human Rights had made a similar point.

"Is it the case that civilian aircraft are being disguised for the purpose of extraordinary rendition travelling through Shannon?" He asked if the Taoiseach intended to take steps to have such aircraft inspected on behalf of the Government to reassure people on an issue that was repulsive.

Mr Ahern said there was a number of investigations under way. He denied that the Government had sat back on the issue, with the attitude that if it did not ask the question there would not be an answer. Dr Rice had made it absolutely clear that no rendition had taken place through Shannon at any time, ever. "She has given absolutely categorical assurances, and I think they have been confirmed as late as yesterday by the ambassador."

Mr Ahern added that for him "to go behind that" would mean him calling senior American officials one thing. "And I am not doing that."