asked the Minister for External Affairs if he is aware of the public concern about the circumstances surrounding the trial, appeal procedure and imprisonment of two Irish citizens (names supplied); and if there have been any further consultations between his Department and the British Home Office on this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imprisonment of Irish Citizens.
13.
I am aware of concern about the circumstances surrounding the case referred to. In the light of information that there is now no objection to our Embassy's making representations on behalf of the two persons involved, I had the matter raised again with the British Home Office and consultations are continuing.
We understand that one of the two men in question is contemplating submitting a petition to the British Home Secretary and we have been assured that he will be allowed facilities to consult his solicitor for this purpose. It is, of course, open to the other man to adopt the same course of action.
May I ask the Minister in respect of the issues concerned, if he would accept that there seem to be some circumstances surrounding the particular trial and the appeal procedure which would legitimately give grounds for serious concern on his part? Has the Minister conveyed those particular grounds through the Embassy to the Home Office?
The Deputy may not have been here when Deputy Michael O'Leary asked me about this matter in July. We made representations and the answer we got from the Home Office was that these men did not want us involved or informed about their case.
That was wrong.
There is some change in the situation but at the moment I would not want to go beyond what I said.
Would the Minister accept that it is a strange state of affairs that in reply to that question of mine to which he referred, in fact, he received incorrect information from the British Home Office? If this is so, has the Minister made any reference to this false information which was given by the British Home Office?
My position in this is to see if I can help. If you are told by another government that those people said they do not want you informed about the case you accept it. There is some change in the situation and I will continue to inquire into it.
The Minister should try to help.
I will try to help.