asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will make urgent representations to the International Red Cross to investigate and keep under observation the conditions under which a large number of Africans recently detained by South African forces are held.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Detention of Africans.
16.
According to the terms of its own charter, the International Red Cross Society has no right to carry out investigations of conditions in any country except at the invitation of the Government of the country concerned.
As Deputies will have noted with satisfaction, however, the Secretary-General of the United Nations will be consulting with representatives of the Government of the Union of South Africa in London after the conclusion of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, probably in early May. Mr. Hammerskjold is undertaking these consultations in compliance with the Security Council's resolution of 1st April, which requested him to consult with the South African Government and to make such arrangements as would adequately help in upholding the purposes and principles of the United Nations' Charter.
We can assume that the forthcoming discussions in London will cover the many aspects of the apartheid question and the recent tragic happenings in South Africa.
I take it the discussions will cover the points in regard to the conditions of the people who are interned or in jail and also the conditions of their dependants?
All questions on what is happening in South Africa in relation to apartheid will be under discussion, I take it.
Can we take it that this Government are anxious to ensure that the points covered in the question will be brought to the attention of the Secretary-General so that they will be discussed and examined?
The attitude of the Government, of this Parliament and of the Irish people towards apartheid and towards the tragic happenings in South Africa, is well known throughout the world.