Seanad report: Describing himself as a very strong friend of the United States, Feargal Quinn (Ind) said that while we should be loyal to our friends and give them the benefit of any doubt, that did not mean closing our eyes to reality.
Mr Quinn said he was adding his support to a "doomed motion" calling for the establishment of a select committee of the House to examine reports that US aircraft landing at Irish airports might have been used to transport persons to locations where they might be at risk of being subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment.
The combined opposition motion was defeated by 28 votes to 16.
Mr Quinn said he thought that the actions of those who opposed the motion were short-sighted. "We do democracy a disservice if in its name we attempt to sweep difficult issues under the carpet, which is what I believe is happening here . . . The history of Northern Ireland, if it teaches us nothing else, should have taught us that lesson."
Brendan Ryan (Lab), who moved the motion for the establishment of a select committee of the House to investigate the rendition issue, said that Fianna Fáil had taken fright. Government parties, who would have held the majority of the proposed committee's membership, had declined to get involved.
Were they to take it that preventing activities which they acknowledged were illegal was a hostile act towards the United States?
"Are we to take it that to attempt to gather evidence of illegal activities is a hostile act? Are we to take it that questioning individuals against whom a prima facie case clearly exists is a hostile act?"
Mr Ryan said that the Government did not want this inquiry to take place because it would result in parliament making the administration accountable for the policy it pursued.
Minister for European Affairs Noel Treacy said that the establishment of a committee was unwarranted and unnecessary. The Government had responded on this matter to the Council of Europe, whose secretary-general had indicated that Ireland was one of only 13 countries whose responses had been deemed sufficiently comprehensive not to require clarification.
John Minihan (PD) said he was inclined to consider that the House had been done a dis-service by pursing so far and so publicly a process towards establishing the select committee.
David Norris (Ind) said that several aircraft whose sole purpose had been the rendition of kidnap victims had been facilitated by refuelling at Shannon.