Rendition flights promise welcomed

A COMMITMENT to ensure gardaí have the power to inspect military flights which are being used for extraordinary renditions has been welcomed by human rights groups.

The Government has agreed to deal with the incoming American administration by seeking a commitment that extraordinary rendition through Irish airports will stop.

A Cabinet sub-committee has been set up to deal with the issue which is a key condition of the Green Party's presence in Government.

The Bush administration has been accused of using extraordinary rendition - the practice whereby terrorist suspects are transported by the CIA to a third country to allow them to be tortured, a process that is banned at home.

Along with approaching the new American administration, the Government is to strengthen the laws to allow the public report suspicions that extraordinary rendition is going on, a process that could allow gardaí to board US aircraft.

Amnesty International Ireland executive director Colm O'Gorman hailed the commitment as a "welcome victory for human rights" in Ireland.

"We are happy to be in a position to commend our Government for showing political and moral leadership on this issue.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) cautiously welcomed the Government commitment, but said it had come at the "11th hour" after years of warnings.

ICCL director Mark Kelly said: "The Government has realised that the writing is on the wall where its longstanding collusion in rendition is concerned. Playing poacher turned gamekeeper is unlikely to impress the new US administration."

The Labour Party intends to introduce a Bill that would allow for the inspection of any civilian aircraft on lease to foreign states and would amend the Civil Aviation Acts of 1988 and 1998 to achieve this.