Seanad ReportThe leader of the House, Mary O'Rourke, dismissed as "a lot of waffle" a ministerial response to concerns that Shannon airport was being used for the unlawful transportation of prisoners.
She also expressed disappointment that the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, had not come to the chamber to address the issue. Mrs O'Rourke had earlier asked that the Minister outline to the House if there was, or had been, a situation where some American planes travelling through, or stopping at, Shannon were exempt from the necessity of showing manifests of crew, passengers and cargo.
Transport Minister of State Ivor Callely said he had been asked to give the reply for his senior colleague. If Mrs O'Rourke felt it was not adequate, he would be happy to arrange a meeting with the relevant officials so the matter could be fully clarified. There had been speculation in the press about the carriage of prisoners through Shannon, going to Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere, added Mr Callely.
"The Department of Foreign Affairs has raised this matter with the US, and I understand the US authorities have confirmed to the department that prisoners have not been transported through Irish airports to Guantanamo or elsewhere. The US also confirms they would not use Irish airports for this purpose in the future without seeking the authorisation of the Irish authorities".
Mrs O'Rourke described the Minister's information as "a lot of waffle and very scant". She felt this was particularly so in regard to the statement by the Minister that the US authorities had confirmed to the Department of Foreign Affairs that prisoners had not been transported through Irish airports. She really wanted to know if there had been any boarding of such aircraft at Shannon by the gardaí or security people for the carrying out of checks. Or did we just blindly accept what we were told?