Call for rendition flight inspections

The Irish Human Rights Commission has called for flights to be inspected where there is a chance that terrorist suspects are being transported to secret detention.

The practice known as extraordinary rendition has been a contentious issue for some time.

It has been alleged that the jets used by the US military to transport terrorist suspects have stopped off in Shannon airport for refuelling.

The Government maintains that it has received assurances from the US authorities that no prisoners been taken through Ireland.

In today's report by the Irish Human Rights Commission, these assurances are for the first time presented in detail.

They include two from US President George W Bush to the Taoiseach during last year's St Patrick's Day celebrations.

The commission says these are not sufficient for Ireland to meet its human rights obligations and any aircraft around which suspicion exists must be boarded and examined by gardaí.

It recommends that consideration be given to establishing a garda sub-station at Shannon Airport, where many of the planes used in rendition operations are alleged to have refuelled.