Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has called on the United States to shut down Camp Delta at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba.
It is the first time the Government has publicly called for the closure of the controversial naval base.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern
Last week, the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly for a resolution urging the prison be closed and the 500 inmates given a fair trail. This followed the publication of a UN report which said the US was violating a host of human rights, including a ban on torture, arbitrary detention and the right to a fair trial. The US denied the claims.
Speaking during Priority Questions in the Dail tonight, Mr Ahern said Ireland agreed with the UN that all forms of torture were illegal and Guantánamo Bay must be closed.
"As far as we are concerned, issues of alleged torture there have to be investigated, in our view," he told TDs.
"As far as we are concerned, we would endorse the view of UN secretary general Kofi Annan in relation to the necessity to either charge or release those people who are detained in Guantanamo and ultimately that the Guantánamo facility should be closed."
He said all prisoners should be protected under international humanitarian laws. "Ireland regards torture as totally unacceptable and unjustified under any circumstances," he said.
"I fully endorse the Secretary General's view that those held in Guantánamo Bay should either be charged or released and that the United States should close this facility.
"This would be highly desirable on human rights grounds.
"Closure of Guantánamo Bay would also serve to reassure all of the US's friends, including Ireland, who recognise the role of the US as a global leader in combating terrorism and promoting democracy."
Labour's international affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins welcomed Mr Ahern's comments but noted that senior gardaí had told him that they have no powers to enter or inspect planes or arrest suspects.
Most of the roughly 500 inmates at Guantánamo have been held for four years without trial. The prisoners were mainly detained in Afghanistan and are held as part of President Bush's declared war against terrorism.