Rendition flights watch should be extended

THE recent announcement that the Government will act to ensure the gardaí and airport authorities have powers of search and inspection of aircraft suspected of involvement in ‘rendition’ is to be welcomed.

But for the sake of the tens of thousands of prisoners languishing in US-controlled torture centres around the world, I hope it doesn’t take long for them to act.

Amnesty International reports have shown that the CIA has been using Shannon as an important cog in its renditions programme for years. Waiting a day longer than is necessary before bringing this to an end is shamefully wrong.