Ahern happy to accept US assurances over Shannon flights

TO search American planes at Shannon would be tantamount to calling US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a liar, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil yesterday.

Challenged by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte to do more than accept “diplomatic assurances” from the US that no rendition flights were using Shannon Airport, Mr Ahern said the Secretary of State had personally told Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern that “no prisoners have been transferred through Irish airports to Guantanamo or anywhere else”.

The Taoiseach said: “Condoleezza Rice is Secretary of State of the United States and a senior representative, not a diplomat. They have made this absolutely clear.