PRIME MINISTER DISMISSES IHRC CALL FOR INSPECTION

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000899 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EI SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER DISMISSES IHRC CALL FOR INSPECTION OF U.S. AIRCRAFT REF: DUBLIN 898 ¶1. On December 12 in the National Parliament (Dail),Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Bertie Ahern categorically rejected Opposition and Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) calls for the random inspection of U.S. aircraft when they are alleged to be transiting Ireland on "extraordinary rendition" flights. Hours earlier, Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern had similarly rejected the IHRC's demand, contained in a report released the same day (reftel). ¶2. The Prime Minister stated that there was not a "scintilla of evidence" to substantiate the IHRC allegations, noting that the Gardai (police) already have the legal authority to board an aircraft when there is a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing. He added that there were serious questions about the effectiveness of the inspection regime proposed by the IHRC; a regime, he said, that has not been adopted by any other European country. The Ministers noted that there had been six occasions when the Gardai had inspected U.S flights alleged to be involved in renditions. Each flight was carrying legal cargo and passengers. FOLEY