asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware if any Swiss nationals came to this country in connection with the sale of Locke's Distillery, Kilbeggan, County Westmeath; if so, if he will give their names and the dates of arrival and departure; and whether they came under police observation while in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aliens and Purchase of Distillery.
Mr. Boland
I do not think it desirable that any official records which may exist as regards the movements or business of persons who come to this country from abroad should be made public, unless in a particular case some public interest would be served by doing so.
I must, therefore, decline to give the information asked for by the Deputy.
Is it not true to say that these gentlemen arrived by special plane and were met at the plane by Mr. Thomas Morris of Clonmel and Senator Quirke?
What has that got to do with the question?
I am asking is it not a fact?
What bearing has it on the question tabled by the Deputy?
Surely the Minister must have that information at his disposal and could give it.
The Deputy has not asked for that.
May I ask, in connection with one of these gentlemen, whom he apprehended for the purpose of deporting, has the Minister reason to believe that that man was sheltered in a house by a naturalised alien, who has had conferred upon him the benefit of Irish citizenship, for a period after that naturalised alien knew the police were looking for the man and, if that is so, will the Minister certify to the House——
The Deputy should have asked the question to which he demands an answer.
That is the question. Does the Minister know that?
It is not on the Order Paper.
It arises out of the question of the activities of aliens arriving here, and how they are dealt with. I am asking, if the Minister knew that, is he satisfied that the naturalised alien was acting in good faith? If he is, that is all right but has he examined that?
Mr. Boland
I am not in a position to answer that question. All I can say is that as soon as it became known that Smith had got in on this illegal passport, efforts were made to trace him. I am not able to say now whether he was actually got or whether he was being sheltered by another alien. I do not know whether or not he even knew the police were after him. I can assure the Deputy that any attempt by these people to evade the law will be dealt with immediately by us and if he has any information or if he wishes to have the question further examined, I will be glad to have the information.
I believe Detective-Sergeant O'Connor, acting on orders of the commissioner, apprehended this man in the apartment of a person— whose name I shall furnish to the Minister. Lest my information might be incorrect, there is no reason to mention the man's name; I shall furnish his name and address to the Minister—in circumstances which suggested that the deportee was, in fact, being concealed from the police for a purpose and was revealed to the police only when that purpose had been achieved.
Mr. Boland
I would like to have that information. If the Deputy has it, I will investigate it.
Question No. 24.
Is the Minister aware of the fact——
Question No. 24.
Mr. Boland
I am not trying to dodge anything.
You are.
Mr. Boland
The Chair has called another question, and that is why I am not replying.