asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the statement issued by the Women's Liberation Movement which claimed that they had illegally imported contraceptive devices; that they had walked past the customs officials openly displaying the contraceptives and offering their names and addresses to the officials; and that the officials refused to confiscate the contraceptives or accept the identification offered; and whether he has investigated this aspect of the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of Contraceptives.
24.
I have seen a newspaper report of the statement mentioned by the Deputy. The incident referred to has been exhaustively investigated, and I am quite satisfied that, as stated in answer to the Deputy's previous question of 2nd June, all contraceptive devices disclosed as having been imported by passengers arriving on the trains from Belfast on the 22nd May last were detained as far as it was practicable to do so.
Is it not clear from the Minister's answer last week that he said they confiscated all that were declared? Is it not a fact that a number were declared and the officials refused to confiscate those that were declared? To that extent the officials were in breach of this particular criminal act. If the Minister does not investigate this fully surely he will be attempting to play his part in concealing from the public the fact that this law was breached on that particular day.
I do not accept this at all. All the information available to me is to the effect that any contraceptive devices which were declared or disclosed were seized.
Is it not a fact that these women in their statements have now declared that they have these contraceptive devices in their possession? Their names are available to the Minister so that he can investigate the matter more fully. They will provide evidence to show that they declared they were importing these devices and that the officials refused to take any action in regard to them. Will the Minister in that set of circumstances continue to examine this case and look for these names and addresses which will be willingly and quickly supplied to him?
We have the names and addresses of, I think, 11 people who disclosed that they were importing contraceptive devices and these were seized. It is possible—I am not saying this is the explanation, but it is a possible explanation—that at the station on that day there were four gates with the crowds coming through. One of these four was manned by customs officers. The others were manned by officials of CIE in uniform, and this is frequently mistaken for the customs officials' uniform. It may be that these people mistakenly declared to these CIE officials that they were carrying contraceptives. I am not saying that this is so, but it may be so. All I am saying is that it is possible. What I am saying with certainty is that, as far as my exhaustive inquiries go, in so far as any disclosure was made to customs officials the devices were seized, other than some pills which were swallowed by certain women who said they were contraceptive pills that they were swallowing.
Is the Minister not evading the issue once again? These women have declared that they have contraceptive devices in their possession. If it were a fact that these women had imported dangerous drugs, for instance, or guns, or ammunition, contrary to the criminal law, and if they said in the paper that they had these in their possession and had not only broken the law once but intended to continue breaking it, would the Minister refuse to take action, as he is now apparently refusing in a most cowardly way to take action either to repeal the law or enforce the law?
It may be that it does not suit Deputy Dr. Browne to have the situation as I described it. Lest there be any misunderstanding, I should like to make it clear that I am not evading the issue at all and, if the Deputy wants to put it to an issue, then this is the fact. I am quoting the note here:
None of the customs officials is aware of incidents of the kind alleged.
This is the information available to me after an exhaustive investigation. If anybody says it is otherwise, I am prepared to accept the word of the customs officials concerned. I have suggested a possible explanation for the divergence of view and, in so far as there is a divergence and another explanation possible, that is the position.
I am calling Question No. 25.
One final supplementary.
This is turning into a debate.
Would the Minister now deal with the information? He now knows these contraceptive devices are illegally held, and the names and addresses of the persons who hold them illegally are available to the Minister for legal action. Is he or is he not prepared to take that legal action?
We cannot go on debating this question.
For people to say they have them is one thing. It certainly would not be the kind of case on which I should like to press a prosecution because it almost certainly would not succeed.
Arising out of——
I will hear no more on this subject. Question No. 25.
Sir, with your permission, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.