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Last week an agreement was signed between Irland and US. The treaty allows CIA agents to interrogate Irish citizens on Irish soil in total secrecy
even if what the suspect is accused of is not a crime in Ireland.
Irishexaminer.com: Treaty gives CIA powers
over Irish citizens
21/07/05
US INVESTIGATORS, including CIA agents, will be allowed interrogate Irish citizens on Irish soil in total secrecy, under an agreement signed between
Ireland and the US last week.
Suspects will also have to give testimony and allow property to be searched and seized even if what the suspect is accused of is not a crime in
Ireland.
On signing the agreement, the minister said that "the international community must do everything it can to combat terrorism with every means at its
disposal.
The US may ask Irish authorities:
To track down people in Ireland.
Transfer prisoners in Irish custody to the US.
Carry out searches and seize evidence on behalf of the US Government.
It also allows US authorities access to an Irish suspect's confidential bank information. The Irish authorities must keep all these activities secret
if asked to do so by the US.
ICCL director Aisling Reidy said: "An extraordinary aspect to this treaty is, despite its scope and its potential to violate basic constitutional and
human rights, that all this happened without debate or transparency.
This is a very disturbing development. I really hope that other European countries do not follow this example.
