US denies CIA ever used Shannon

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has assured the Government that Shannon Airport has never been used by the CIA, it emerged today.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said he accepted categoric assurances from Dr Rice that the Co Clare airport was not being used for flights taking prisoners to other countries for interrogation.

The European Union has already sought a response from the US Secretary of State over reports about secret CIA prisons in Europe and the transfer of terrorism suspects by planes to foreign states for interrogation.

“As a friendly nation to the US they have given us categoric assurances that Shannon has not been used for anything untoward and I said publicly that we as a friendly nation to the US totally except the categoric assurances that they have given us and confirmed here today,” Mr Ahern told RTE Radio, after meeting with Dr Rice in Washington.

“I have to say the Government would be very concerned and I think the Irish people would be very concerned if Shannon was to be used in any way that would infringe international law and that we would have to take immediate action if we felt that was the case.”

Dr Rice made the comments after yesterday’s edition of the New York Times reported aircraft operated by CIA companies passed through Shannon Airport 33 times over the past four-years.

Britain, which currently holds presidency of the EU, sent a two-paragraph letter to Washington on Tuesday querying reports of secret US-run prisons for terrorism suspects across Europe. It came after weeks of increasing concern in Europe over reports that the CIA has detained and interrogated terrorism prisoners in Soviet-era compounds in Eastern Europe.

Mr Ahern also discussed the plight of an estimated 25,000 undocumented Irish people living in the United States during the meeting.

The Foreign Minister asked for the the Kennedy/McCain bill – an immigration programme which provides for temporary residency and a path to permanent resident status – to be given positive consideration.

He had previously said he hoped the passing in Ireland of an all-party resolution supporting the Kennedy/McCain bill would encourage US legislators to amend the immigration law.