‘Legal mechanism needed to make Govt act on CIA flights’

A conference in Dublin today is hearing calls for a legal mechanism that could force the Irish Government to inspect CIA flights passing through Shannon Airport.

Yesterday, Ireland and 13 other European countries were accused of colluding in the CIA's controversial "extraordinary rendition scheme" by the continent's leading human rights watchdog.

The 46-nation Council of Europe said Ireland was implicated in the illegal programme by allowing CIA flights to refuel at Shannon Airport.

Such flights have landed at the Co Clare facility on dozens of occasions in recent years, but the Irish Government says it accepts US assurances that no prisoners have been on board.

The matter is being discussed at a special conference in Dublin today being chaired by Labour Party MEP Proinsias de Rossa.

Mr De Rossa is demanding that the Government bow to public opinion and end the use of Irish territory as part of the rendition scheme.

If this is not done, he says a legal mechanism is needed to ensure the Government can be forced to take action when there are clear indications that Irish territory is being used for illegal purposes.