Fianna Fáil senators have blocked attempts to set up a Seanad investigation into allegations that the US has illegally transported prisoners through Shannon airport for torture elsewhere, writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent.
Following calls from an Independent senator before Christmas, a provisional committee was set up led by the Fianna Fáil leader of the Seanad, Mary O'Rourke.
Besides Senator David Norris, the other members were Labour's Senator Brendan Ryan, the Progressive Democrats' Senator John Minihan and Fine Gael's Senator Paul Bradford.
Though the group had held a couple of meetings, a resolution had to be moved and accepted by the full Seanad before it could begin any inquiries into the Shannon airport situation .
Yesterday, however, Fianna Fáil senators, during their weekly meeting, objected to the move, which led to Mrs O'Rourke dropping the proposal.
Questioned by The Irish Times last night, Mrs O'Rourke said: "The [ FF] senators were very exercised about the matter.
"They left me in no doubt that they would vote against such a motion were such a motion put on the Seanad's Order Paper."
The Fianna Fáil senators' objections do not seem to have been in response to pressure from the Government, which is shortly to answer questions on alleged "rendition" flights through Shannon airport from both the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.
Instead, Fianna Fáil senators feared that the creation of a Seanad inquiry would be seen as an unfriendly act by the United States, and possibly threaten the US military's increasingly important use of Shannon International Airport.