asked the Minister for Justice if he will state what applications, if any, are required to be made to the Gardaí as a preliminary to the holding of public meetings in the Dublin Metropolitan Area; what considerations are taken into account in dealing with such applications, and to what scrutiny they are subjected; if he will take steps to ensure that permission to hold public meetings shall not be granted in the future without careful examination of the credentials of persons or organisations applying for such permission where it is reasonably suspected that the meeting is for the purpose of promoting Communism.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Public Meetings in Dublin.
Mr. A. Byrne
Mr. A. Byrne
asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware of the great resentment of most citizens at the holding of public meetings in Dublin by a declared Communist organisation, the "Irish Workers' League", a supporter of which was found guilty in the District Court on the 11th of June of conduct likely to provoke a breach of the peace at a recent meeting; and if, with a view to avoiding further provocation and resulting demonstrations of hostility he will forbid public assembly of this or any other organisation which aims at the promotion of Communism in Ireland.
I propose, if the Ceann Comhairle permits, to answer Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
I would remind the Deputy that Article 40 of the Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and without arms.
Neither the police nor I have authority to grant permission for or to forbid the holding of a public meeting, except a meeting held by or on behalf of or by arrangement or in concert with an unlawful organisation, which can be prohibited by a chief superintendent of the Garda Síochána under Section 27 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939. The police are entitled to prevent the holding of a meeting or procession if they have reason to fear that it would result in breaches of the peace, but whether they should interfere or not is a matter for them to decide, having regard to the circumstances of each case. It would not be proper for me to issue any general instruction to the police to prevent the holding of meetings by any organisation.
Mr. A. Byrne
Might I ask the Minister and the Taoiseach and the whole Cabinet has the time not arrived when they should get together and put an end to the activities of those who are advocating Communism in this city, aiming at the overthrow of the State and the subversion of Christian teachings? Will they move before it is too late and not force the public to take the law into their own hands, as they did a few days ago?
I shall be replying to a further question on this matter in a moment. As I said last week, I have no evidence which would convict anyone of Communism. I know there are people who appear to have Communistic tendencies, and that could extend to a lot of people. So long as they are within the law, I cannot interfere, and they appear to be within the law. So far as I know, they are not associated with or affiliated with the Cominform, which is one of the symbols or signs of actual Communist membership.
Mr. A. Byrne
Did not the Minister read in the newspapers last week that they sent a telegram of sympathy on the death of one of the leading Communists of the world? It was because of the publication of that telegram that the Dublin citizens made up their minds that they would not permit them to carry on an agitation in which they mentioned Christian teaching in derogatory terms?
Who is blaming the citizens of Dublin?