asked the Minister for External Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the report of baton charges carried out by a large contingent of police against an orderly, peaceful and unarmed procession in Enniskillen on the 5th November, ostensibly to prevent the display of the Irish flag, as a result of which a large number of defenceless civilians received severe injuries; and, if so, whether he will request the British Government, which claims sovereignty in that portion of our country, to take steps to ensure that in future (a) the armed military and police forces under its control shall desist from undertaking provocative and insulting action against the Irish flag, and (b) shall direct the civil and military authority in that portion of Ireland over which Britain claims jurisdiction, to observe the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights adopted by the Council of Europe.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Display of Irish Flag in Enniskillen.
I have read with regret the newspaper reports referred to by the Deputy. I have given the matter the most careful consideration, and have come to the conclusion that no good purpose would be served by a specific protest to the British Government such as is suggested in the question.
It is, of course, as natural and right to display the Green, White and Orange in Enniskillen as the Union Jack in Leeds or the Stars and Stripes in Philadelphia. I am satisfied that there is a growing recognition of the common interests of Irishmen by men of all classes and creeds in the Six Counties and I hope they will soon be as successful in persuading the inner circles in Belfast to adopt the same adult and modern approach to the display of the National Flag as they have in other matters recently.
Many years ago the late Lord Craigavon said to Mr. G. C. Duggan, C.B., O.B.E., LL.B.:—
"Duggan, you know that in this island we cannot live always separated from one another. We are too small to be apart or for the Border to be there for all time. The change will not be in my time, but it will come."
Geography and current circumstances are inexorably bringing about the changes which the late Lord Craigavon foresaw in 1937.
Does the Minister not consider that it would be desirable to draw the attention of the British Government to what constitutes a flagrant violation of international rules, namely, utilisation of the armed forces of the British Government to insult the Irish Flag in a portion of our country?
As the Deputy will be aware, he took the same course as I did in relation to another incident involving the flag. I can call the Deputy's attention to it if he wants but there is no necessity.
With great respect, I do not know whether or not the Minister is aware, but I took certain action on previous occasions, certain definite action. I put down the question in the hope that the Minister had taken the same action as I had taken before.
When there was an American car with the flag displayed on it in Armagh the Deputy, then Minister, was asked would he make a specific protest in regard to the matter and he refused to do it. I am just reminding him of that. He can see it in the debates.
With respect, I think if the Minister looks up the file he will see that I did send for the British Ambassador at the time and made most specific representations to him in connection with the action of the British forces. I did not lodge a formal written protest, but I made formal verbal representations to the British Ambassador at the time. I think if the Minister takes the trouble to read the relevant files he may find it interesting.
If the Deputy takes the trouble to read the Dáil Debates, he will find that I have given an accurate summary of his reply to Deputy Brady on the question involved.
The Minister did not prepare his reply from the Dáil Debates, did he?
I did not want to go any further than that.