asked the Taoiseach if he has protested to the Government of the Six Counties against the arrest of two young Kilkenny men by the R.U.C. on their return from playing in a hurling match outside Belfast, and, if not, whether he intends to lodge a protest; and whether he will warn the citizens of the Twenty-Six Counties that in future it is necessary to carry identification papers in order to avoid arrest while visiting the Six Counties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Arrest in Six Counties of Kilkenny Hurlers.
2.
With regard to the first two parts of the Deputy's Question, I may say that I deplore any action that tends to engender ill-feeling between the people of the two areas, and that the arrest in the Six Counties of inoffensive visitors from the Twenty-Six Counties is obviously such an action. I am satisfied, however, that any formal protest would be ineffective. As to the third part of the Question I would regard it as a very undesirable development if any official system of identification documents were introduced for Irish people travelling in the Six Counties.
I might add that I hope that the incident referred to in the Question will not operate to discourage sporting and other bodies from maintaining their contacts with corresponding bodies in the Six Counties or from participating in sporting events in that area.
Further to the Taoiseach's reply, the Taoiseach will know from the statement issued after the arrest that if this man, Hennessy, had identification papers he would not have been held overnight. Is the Taoiseach satisfied that anybody travelling in Northern Ireland would require some papers to identify him if challenged by the R.U.C. in that part of the country?
Personally, I would not think of travelling from home anywhere without some identification. I think it is an elementary precaution.
Are you so little known as all that?