This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 001550 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PHUM EI
SUBJECT: GOI HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CALLS FOR INSPECTION 
OF U.S. FLIGHTS 
 
 
¶1.  The Irish Human Rights Commission, which is an 
independent agency of the Irish government created under the 
Good Friday Agreement, submitted a report to the GOI December 
23 calling on the government "as a matter of urgency to seek 
the agreement of the U.S. authorities to the inspection of 
aircraft suspected of involvement in this traffice (of 
detainees to locations where they may be tortured or 
ill-treated)."  The press release follows in para 2 along 
with a WEB site from which the full report can be accessed. 
The government responded by saying that it would study the 
report, by reiterating its faith in assurances from the USG, 
and by noting that it is cooperating fully with COE's 
European- wide enquiry.  Full GOI statement is in para 3. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Irish Human Rights Commission Press Release 
Friday, December 23, 2005 
------------------------------------------- 
¶2.  Begin text: 
Human Rights Commission urges Government to seek US agreement 
to the inspection of aircraft landing at Irish airports. 
 
The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) is seriously 
concerned about reports that US aircraft landing at Shannon 
airport may be involved in the transport of persons to secret 
locations where they may be at risk of being subjected to 
torture, cruel or inhuman treatment. 
 
In view of Ireland's international legal obligation to ensure 
that no one is sent to a jurisdiction where they may run this 
risk, the Commission calls on the Government to seek 
agreement from the US authorities to inspect the aircraft  in 
question on landing at Shannon or any other Irish airport. 
 
The President of the IHRC, Dr. Maurice Manning, stated "The 
Irish Government has a clear obligation both under the 
Convention against Torture, the ECHR and under domestic law 
to prevent any actions on our soil which could in any way 
facilitate torture or ill-treatment even in another country. 
Thus far, the Government has said that it has received 
assurances from the US authorities that they are not using 
planes which are landing at Shannon in connection with the 
transport of detainees to locations where they may be 
tortured or ill-treated.  In the Commission's view, and in 
light of Ireland's international legal obligations in this 
field, reliance on diplomatic assurances is not sufficient to 
protect against the risk of torture and other forms of 
ill-treatment." 
 
In conclusion, Dr. Manning added "given the fact that the 
obligation on the state to protect against all forms of 
torture, inhuman and degrading treatment is an absolute one, 
and given the gravity of the allegations that have been made 
to date and which are under active investigation by the 
Council of Europe, it is not sufficient for the Government to 
rely on such assurances.  Accordingly, the Commission calls 
on the Government, as a matter of urgency, to seek the 
agreement of the US authorities to the inspection of aircraft 
suspected of involvement in this traffic". 
 
Spokespersons are available for comment. 
Mary Ruddy, 
Senior Human Rights Awareness Officer, 
Irish Human Rights Commission 
 
A copy of the Commission's Resolution is available at: 
http://www.ihrc.ie/ fileupload/banners/Shannonproposal.doc 
 
end press release 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
Statement by the Department of Foreign Affairs 
23rd December 2005 
Human Rights Commission and Issue of Extraordinary Rendition 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
¶3.  Begin text: 
Commenting on the Human Rights Commission Resolution, a 
spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that: 
 
"The Government will study the Human Rights Commission's 
resolution carefully and respond in due course. 
 
As has been made clear on numerous occasions in the Dail and 
elsewhere, the Government cannot permit, has not permitted 
and will not permit so-called extraordinary renditions to be 
carried out through Irish airports or airspace. 
 
It has also been made clear that the appropriate authorities 
will act if there is specific and credible information 
regarding particular aircraft of the type in question. 
 
Once again, however, the Government recalls that it has, on 
numerous occasions, received explicit, unambiguous and 
unqualified assurances from the US authorities that no 
prisoners have been transported through Irish airports, nor 
would they be, without the express permission of the 
Government.  These assurances have recently been reiterated 
at a very high level.  In the European context, these 
assurances are of a particular completeness and clarity. 
 
The Government would also emphasise that it is co-operating 
fully with a Europe-wide enquiry on these issues being 
carried out by the Council of Europe.  In the New Year, it 
will be providing a comprehensive response to the questions 
posed by the Council of Europe." 
 
End text of DFA statement 
BENTON