QUESTIONS THE IRISH GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO ANSWER

Secret services:

• Is the Government systematically informed of the activities of foreign secret services (in particular the CIA) on national territory?

•How does it supervise co-operation between the national secret services and those of partner countries? To what extent might the Government have tolerated certain illegal activities by foreign secret services on national territory by adopting a passive attitude?

•Are there any specific agreements with the USA on combating terrorism (possibly providing for the USA to have bases on national territory or even to carry out policing operations independently)?

Flights to, from or over national territory by CIA aircraft/transportation of prisoners:

•Does the Government know of any flights to, from or over national territory by aircraft chartered by the CIA or related agencies (outsourcing)? If so, since when, and how frequent have they been?

•Was permission requested from the Government or the competent authorities for the flights and overflights in question? If so, what was its/their response?

•What information must be provided in support of such requests? Must a list of passengers' names (always) be supplied?

•What implications do the NATO accords or other similar agreements have for the procedures for requesting permission for the alleged flights? Do these procedures only apply to military flights or can they be extended to civilian flights?

•Does the Government know of (or has it tolerated by adopting a passive attitude) the illegal transportation of prisoners on those flights? If so, since when has this been the case?

•What is the legal basis allowing prisoners to be transported via national territory by a third country? Has the Government ever authorised this kind of transportation? If so, what kind of assurances can it demand regarding the conditions under which these prisoners are held?

•Does the Government know of any landings on national territory of aircraft which may have carried such prisoners (eg on their way to the Guantanamo Bay base)? If so, please give details.

•Does the Government know of, or has it been passively or actively involved in, the carrying out of abductions by foreign secret services on national territory or that of other states?

•Have there been any judicial investigations into these cases? If so, what results have there been so far?

•Has the Government requested information from the American authorities regarding alleged flights to, from or over national territory by aircraft chartered by the CIA which may have been used for the illegal transportation of prisoners? If so, what replies has it received so far?