asked the Taoiseach whether he has protested to either the Government of Northern Ireland or the British Government regarding the wholesale arrest and imprisonment without trial of Irish citizens resident in the Six Counties; and, if so, if he will state the result of such protest.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arrests in the Six Counties.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part, accordingly, does not arise.
Will the Taoiseach say whether he proposes to take no action in a situation in which citizens of Eire are being detained by the Six-County Government without any charge whatever? Does he think it fair or desirable that citizens of Eire should be allowed to be incarcerated by the Government of the Six Counties without any charge having been proved against them?
If the Deputy had asked me why I have not made such representations, I would have told him that I would regard such a protest as futile. I know, and the Deputy knows as well that, as long as Partition lasts, and there is a Government governing an unwilling population, this sort of thing is going to continue.
Would the Taoiseach not think it desirable to make a protest on behalf of this State against the detention, without any charge, of citizens of this State by the Six-County Government, so as to demonstrate that, at least, we are not acquiescent in that type of tyranny?
There is no question of acquiescance.