IRELAND/US: The status of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners should be determined by a tribunal under the Geneva Convention, a Government spokesman has said.
The Government had raised "concerns" with the US authorities about the prisoners' conditions.
Some Opposition spokesmen have criticised the Government for failing to take a stronger position up to now on the issue. "I now demand that the Government takes an unequivocal stance on human rights," Labour's Mr Michael D. Higgins said.
Apparently reluctant to make any public criticism of the US on the issue, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs have largely confined themselves to expressing support for the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Mrs Mary Robinson, who called for the prisoners to be treated humanely and brought before a court or tribunal.
However it emerged that the matter was discussed with US Special Envoy, Mr Richard Haass last week in Dublin when he met Mr Cowen and senior officials.
"We have raised our concerns with the US authorities and have been assured that they are aware of their obligations. We are confident that they will meet the standards of just and humane treatment," a Foreign Affairs spokesman said.
Mr Cowen discussed the issue yesterday with the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, at the Afghan aid conference in Tokyo: "They both fully agreed there could be no trade-off between human rights and efforts to combat international terrorism."
Mr Higgins said he would be taking up the issue at the Foreign Affairs Committee in Leinster House tomorrow.
Mr Jim O'Keeffe of Fine Gael said he had raised it with the US Ambassador.
Mr John Gormley of the Green Party said the Government should outline its precise position.
"They can't just say that they support Mary Robinson," he said.
The Red Cross has visited the prisoners and now Amnesty International is seeking access. "We hope the Irish Government will support our request and use whatever influence it has on the UN Security Council to persuade the US to let in Amnesty medical personnel," an Amnesty spokesman said.