asked the Minister for Defence whether he is aware that the wives and near relatives of prisoners held to be tried by the Special Tribunal under the Constitution (Amendment No. 17) Act, 1931, have been unable to get any information as to where those prisoners are; and to ask the Minister for a list of such prisoners and where they are detained; further to ask the Minister whether he will apply the rules obtaining in the case of prisoners detained for trial in the Civil Courts in the cases of these prisoners.
Private Notice Question. - Communication With Prisoners.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Relatives who write to me for information will be informed if the prisoner is in my custody. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative.
I would like to ask the Minister if he is aware that people like Mrs. Liam Barry, who has a young family, and Mrs. Hurley, who has six children, have to come to Dublin and wander about trying to find out where their husbands are. They do not know what condition they are in. And people like Mrs. Gilmore and others who used to send washing in to their sons have found it impossible to get into communication with them, a complete change having taken place in the system which obtained when they were in the civil prison, namely of having visits and getting in parcels and changes of washing. Is there any way by which that can now be done?
I understand that the whereabouts of every prisoner in my custody is knows to his relatives. As regards the laundry, we do the laundry for the prisoners.
I would like to point out that the relatives do not know where these people are very often. If the Minister is asked where the prisoners are will he let the relatives know if they get into direct communication with him? Will he tell them where exactly they are?
Relatives who write to me for information will be informed that the prisoner is in my custody. As far as prisoners who are not in my custody are concerned, I understand their relatives know where they are. There is no case of their not knowing.
I would like to ask the Minister whether he would publish a set of rules drafted by him under the Act dealing with detained prisoners so that it would be known whether there would be any way of getting into communication with those people, as has always been allowed under military law when it was in this country. During the civil war it was always possible for persons to have some communication with prisoners. Does the Minister propose to issue rules by which the same communication can be held between prisoners and their relatives outside who are suffering possibly a great deal more although they have nothing to do with certain activities? Women and children are suffering through being unable to get into communication with their relatives.
Prisoners and their relatives are aware of the regulations so far as communications are concerned. I understand that a good number of prisoners have communicated with their solicitors.
There was one case where a communication was sent to say that clothes could be brought to Arbour Hill. When the clothes were brought they were refused at the gate.
I presume it will not occur again as it is now known that the clothes cannot be sent.