The Tánaiste rejected criticism of the Dromoland summit by Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West), Michael O'Regan reports.
Ms Harney said that the Government, on behalf of the EU, had welcomed President Bush, who was head of a country which had been extraordinarily friendly to Ireland, and with which it had close political, cultural and economic ties.
"There was a very frank discussion on the prisoner issues. I understand the President, at her meeting, also raised issues of concern to the Irish people in this regard, as did the Taoiseach at the bilateral meeting."
Mr Higgins said that after the summit, the Taoiseach had stated that questions about United States' prison camps were answered to his and to the Tánaiste's satisfaction.
"Did Mr Bush say that Guantanamo camp will be closed, or is it to the Tánaiste's satisfaction that psychological torture continues there on prisoners kept in cages with no charge, trial or access to relatives, friends or lawyers, although the Supreme Court decision of yesterday might change that somewhat?"
The truth was that the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, had erected "Guantanamo-style detention cages for protesters in Shannon industrial estate, which he tried to hide, given that the Garda Commissioner refused me permission to inspect them on Saturday." He added that "one could call it the Minister's very own 'Shannonamo'."
Ms Harney said that there was now a UN mandate in Iraq.
"The Irish Government regretted all along that the United States intervened when it did without a UN mandate. We made that very clear, as the deputy is aware.
"On the prisoner issue, the president expressed his horror and disgust, as he did in public, at what happened in Abu Ghraib in Iraq. He said those responsible would be held responsible in an open and transparent fashion."
Pressed further by Mr Higgins, the Tánaiste said that the US Supreme Court had made a decision on Monday on Guantanamo Bay. "Obviously, the rule of law will take its course. We have a different approach to some issues and I made that clear last week. However, that does not take from the fact that this country should always welcome the democratically elected head of another friendly democracy.
"That is what we did, just as President Bush was recently welcomed to Italy and France, to Turkey this weekend and to many other places." Ms Harney said that the Government had engaged in dialogue with the president on points on which they agreed, and on which there was disagreement.
"That is the way it should be," she added.