asked the Minister for Justice if he will elaborate on his statement issued through the Government Information Bureau on 17th May that appropriate instructions have been issued by him to the Garda authorities concerning illegal action by members of unlawful organisations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Unlawful Organisations' Activities.
53.
The statement in question was made in response to a specific query put to me and I do not consider that it is either necessary or desirable to elaborate on it. The Deputy will appreciate that the terms of communications from the Minister to the Garda Síochána have always been regarded as confidential but I do not mind saying that what I said to the commissioner was in general rather than in specific terms.
Why should statements be made referring to unlawful organisations when the Minister is not prepared to give the names of such alleged unlawful organisations in his opinion and is not prepared to elaborate and give us the types of activities which he considers to be unlawful?
This is surely a separate question.
The Minister has indicated in his reply that he is not prepared to give this information.
The Chair has no power to compel a Minister to give an answer other than the answer he gives.
Why should a Minister of State start making statements about the illegal actions of members of unlawful organisations when there is, in fact, equally widespread disquiet——
I am sure the Deputy appreciates that he is making a long statement instead of asking a question.
Would the Minister specify the names of the unlawful organisations?
The statement was made by the Minister in response to a specific query. He is not prepared to elaborate further than I have already indicated in the reply. I have given the reason for that.
If it is the position that the Minister cannot reply adequately to Deputy Desmond because the appropriate Minister is not here I think this question should be repeated on Wednesday next because it is quite apparent that the Minister for Finance is not in possession of the full facts.
The Minister for Finance is in full possession of the facts of the matter and he has given the same reply as would have been given by the Minister for Justice if he were not in the Seanad.
Does the connotation of illegal activities or unlawful organisations include those who have got away in an organisational form with the attempted illegal importation of arms?
(Interruptions.)