A Cabinet sub-committee set up to review the law on searching suspected rendition flights has met twice in over a year, Amnesty International claimed today.
The Irish wing of the human rights group used the eighth anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay to demand the findings of the review be made public.
Colm O’Gorman, executive director, said: “In November 2008 the Government announced it was setting up a Cabinet committee to review the law and ensure gardaí had the power to board and search suspected rendition flights.
“At the time the Government said this was an indication that it was ‘taking human rights seriously’. Over a year later however there is still no sign of this review and the committee has only met twice.”
Mr O’Gorman said there was a widespread belief that President Barack Obama had ended rendition by ordering the Cuban detention centre’s closure, but this was not the case.
“The issue of Ireland’s role in rendition flights, like Guantanamo, has not gone away,” Mr O’Gorman said. “The Taoiseach must announce when the Cabinet review will finally take place. He must ensure that it is comprehensive and commit to making the findings public.”
The committee is made up of Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey, Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan and Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
The organisation also renewed its call on Mr Obama to close Guantanamo.
In July it was announced that Ireland would accept two detainees from the US prison, a move the human rights organisation welcomed.
PA