Taoiseach's (Irish Head of Gov.) office guards information on CIA flights

Sunday Business Post, Dublin, Ireland ^ | 08 January 2006 | Paul T. Colgan

[Murtyo]

The Taoiseach's office has refused to release any information it has about the CIA's 'extraordinary rendition' flights, on the grounds that to do so may compromise the security, defence or international relations of the state.

The Council of Europe this weekend said that CIA jets travelling through Irish airports should be searched by gardai to ensure that prisoners are not being carried. A report published by the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) last month had recommended that Gardai (Irish National Police) board such flights.

Extraordinary rendition involves the abduction of suspected militants from foreign countries by members of the CIA using privately-leased aircraft. Several of the aircraft are known to have landed at Shannon and many of those abducted claim to have been taken to torture centres.

The Department of the Taoiseach turned down requests under the Freedom of Information Act for access to documents on the matter. It cited Section 24, a wide-ranging clause that takes in the security, defence and international relations of the state.

However, the Department of Foreign Affairs released a number of documents relating to rendition, including correspondence signed by the Taoiseach and communications with officials from his office.

The government maintains that it has repeatedly sought and obtained assurances from the US government that it is not using Irish airports to transport prisoners.

Pressure is likely to grow, however, for greater transparency on the matter. The IHRC said last month that US statements should not be taken at face value and that the Irish government, in agreement with the US government, should arrange for flights to be boarded. The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Alvaro Gil Robles expressed his support for the IHRC last week.

“Insofar as so-called extraordinary rendition flights are concerned, states must be in a position, where there is doubt, to establish who is on board planes transiting via their airports, whether they are travelling freely or are detained, and, if the latter, under whose authority they are being transported and for what purpose,” he said.

[Murtyo]

looks like Ireland can't conduct its own foreign policy, a European Council can tell it how it can relate to other countries.

[conservative in nyc]

At least so far, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern doesn't seem to care what that European Council thinks.

[stylin19a]

did anybody know til now that CIA flights were going in/through Ireland ?

[saganite]

I think I remember reading sometime around the troop buildup for the Iraq war that the protesters at the Shannon airport claimed US planes were coming through Shannon with Afghan prisoners on their way to Guantanamo. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch on anyone's part to imagine they were going the other way. Proving it would be a different matter, hence the EU's interest in boarding the planes.

[Tyche]

The Lefties are always watching:

http://www.villagemagazine.ie/article.asp?sid=1&sud=41&aid=668

[Murtyo]

it's been public since the summer of 2005 i think. www.indymedia.ie - irish, leftie site covers it alot

[stylin19a]

Thanks....

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Gardai searching CIA agents? There is a joke there somewhere...

[Incorrigible]

C'mon IT, you gotta give one up for Bertie this time!

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Well OK, and they are going to privatize Aer Lingus!!!