asked the President whether he will state what action the Executive Council has taken with reference to the arrest and imprisonment of Deputy de Valera.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arrest and Imprisonment of Deputy.
Deputy de Valera was arrested in an area over which we have no jurisdiction, and was tried and sentenced in respect of an offence against the law prevailing in that area. The Executive Council cannot interfere with the administration of the law in Northern Ireland, and accordingly the only course that was open to the Executive Council was to make representations to the Northern Government that, in the special circumstances of the case, Deputy de Valera might be released. Such representations were made, with the results already known.
If the President would not mind, I should like to know what the results were.
The matter was published in the Press. I will undertake to send the Deputy a copy.
I would rather hear it from the President now, if he would not mind.
I have not got a copy of it here.
Might I ask whether any representations were made to the British Government?
No, there were not.
This is a matter of very considerable importance. I do not know whether I would be in order now in asking permission to raise the matter under Standing Order 27.
The matter can be raised at the end of Questions, before the beginning of public business.