Human rights officials have announced an investigation into Ireland's role in "extraordinary rendition" - the illegal transfer of a person from one state to another.
The investigation by the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) follows allegations that prisoners were being transferred through Shannon, outside legal scrutiny, to countries were they faced ill-treatment and torture.
IHRC acting chief executive Des Hogan said the commission had "substantive" discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs on the issue, and while it welcomed the Government's confirmation that it "abhors the practice" of secret detentions and other such practices, the investigation was necessary.
He said the commission was particularly focused on the issue because of the seriousness of the alleged abuses. "The practice of torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances are the antithesis of human rights protection and indeed the rule of law."
The review is due to be done by the end of the year.
The IHRC had also engaged with the Council of Europe's commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations human rights officials and appeared before a European Parliament committee on the issue.
The IHRC published its annual report today.