IRISH GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO REPORT ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000898 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SUBJECT: IRISH GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO REPORT ON "EXTRAORDINARY RENDITIONS" Classified By: DCM Robert J. Faucher. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (U) On December 11, the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern issued a statement responding to a report by the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) on alleged "extraordinary rendition" flights through Ireland. (Note: the IHRC was set up under the "Good Friday" Agreement by the Irish government to "promote and protect human rights" in Ireland and to advise the government on such matters. End Note). Ahern noted the Irish Government's opposition to the practice of extraordinary rendition but said that no one has produced evidence that Ireland has ever been used as a transit point for any person subject to extraordinary rendition. He pointed out that the IHRC report does not contain any new information on the subject and the Government remains confident that it is on sound legal footing by relying on the "categoric and absolute assurances secured from the United States Government" that it has not engaged in "extraordinary rendition" flights through Ireland. Ahern stated that the Irish police have full powers to search planes and have investigated a number of allegations but found "no basis on which to proceed." ¶2. (U) In its December 11 report, "Extraordinary Rendition: A Review of Ireland's Human Rights Obligations," the IHRC states that the assurances of the USG are not "sufficient for Ireland to satisfy its human rights obligations with regard to the issue of "extraordinary rendition" flights passing through Irish territory." Further, the report suggests that an "effective inspection regime" be set up to ensure that no such flights are able to transit Ireland. Most of the report's recommendations centered on this inspection regime and called upon the Irish government and police to gather more detailed information on flights coming into Ireland. The IHRC maintains that the Irish government should oppose extraordinary renditions in international fora. On that point, Ahern noted that the government "has taken a lead at the EU level in calling for the review of the regulation of civil aviation ... to counter any possibility of extraordinary rendition." Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) As Ahern mentioned, the IHRC report contained very little that was new. Ahern's response to the report was swift and quite strong. Further, the press coverage on both the IHRC report and Ahern's response has been minimal and neutral and, for now, does not look likely to require Post to respond publicly. FOLEY