Seanad report:It was not for the Government to direct that an Oireachtas committee be established to investigate the manner in which the State had dealt with the issue of rendition flights.
This was the Government's response to a Labour motion urging compliance with the request of a European Parliament committee that an investigation be instigated here. Labour urged that pending the outcome of such a probe there should be an immediate ban on the use of Irish airports and air space by all CIA aircraft.
The Government amendment expressed serious concern about the opaque manner in which the European Parliament committee had reached its conclusions on "an inflated figure of suspicious aircraft" and it commended the Government for its co-operation with the committee's work.
Moving the motion, Labour's Brendan Ryan said the EP committee had concluded that the Irish Government should not rely on the kind of diplomatic assurances that had been given by the Americans. While the Government claimed to have fully co-operated with the work of the committee, the reality was that it had been criticised for not giving such co-operation.
"So, we now have the situation straight out of 1984 or Alice in Wonderland, where the truth is really what we say it is."
Mr Ryan said it was a pity that it was necessary to put the motion before the House.
"It's an even greater pity that the good name of a country that has a courageous record of standing up for human rights has been tarnished, I think, by the silly ineptitude of a Government trying to curry favour with what is perhaps the most discredited regime that has presided over the United States in 50 years."
Paul Bradford (FG) said that extraordinary rendition was part of a jigsaw of measures which, unfortunately, were resulting in the world being made a more dangerous place.
As a democratic country with an independent voice we needed a clear stance. It should be an absolute "No".
As members of the Oireachtas they had a duty to continue with their efforts to inquire into the possibility or otherwise of rendition flights taking place and using Irish facilities. "We must challenge that at all levels."
Martin Mansergh (FF) said he had found Mr Bradford's contribution interesting. Were they to conclude that a Fine Gael-led government would ban the use of Shannon by certain categories of US aircraft? He thought it important to know the answer to that.
David Norris (Ind) said the Government amendment was a disgrace and that it was a tissue of lies, evasion and hypocrisy.