asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to a newspaper report describing the activities in a camp of an illegal organisation, allegedly near Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim; if he has had this report investigated particularly with regard to the reference that the gardaí were aware of the existence of the camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Illegal Organisation Camp.
22.
I assume the Deputy is referring to the article in the Irish Independent of Tuesday, 30th November, in which reference was made to a training camp said to be operated by an illegal organisation somewhere in the north-west of the country. If so, I would point out that the article refers, in fact, to a farmhouse and does not at any point say or imply that the gardaí were aware that training activities were being carried on there. On the contrary, the article makes the point that there was nothing externally to distinguish the house from other houses, and it furthermore itself adverts to the possibility that the use of that particular house in the way described was a special propaganda exercise designed to mislead the reporter rather than a regular occurrence. On the other hand, I have at no time sought to deny that this kind of training activity does go on to some extent in the manner described, that is to say, indoors.
I have repeatedly stated that the instructions to the Garda Síochána— instructions which are constantly repeated and re-emphasised—are that all possible efforts within the limits of their resources are to be made to prevent illegal activity of this or any other similar kind.
Apart from that, the House is aware that the Government have gone to the extent of specially promoting legislation, which was passed by this House and by the Seanad virtually without a dissenting voice, whereby the maximum penalty for possession of military-type weapons was substantially increased.
If the Minister is aware that these activities are going on and if he has given such strict instructions to the gardaí, can the Minister explain to the House why there will not be any prosecutions?
On the contrary, there have been many prosecutions. When I say in my reply that I have at no time sought to deny that this kind of training activity does go on to some extent in the manner described, I want to make it clear—and I have said this on a number of occasions in this House—that it goes on in very small groups, indoors, in an isolated house. The gardaí are satisfied that on no occasion are there more than five or six people together and that this training, such as it is, lasts for a very short period.
Can the Minister say how he has such specific information on the size of the groups and the localities without any action being taken?
I have no specific information on it but the Garda tell me that such training as goes on can only go on in this fashion. There is no such thing as a training camp. There is no such thing as out-door training.
Can the Minister give details of any of the "many prosecutions for illegal training activities" taken recently?
I have not any list with me——
None of us seems to recall them.
——but I would say, roughly speaking, in relation to the possession of weapons and activities of this kind, that about 30 prosecutions, or so, have been taken over the past three or four months. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of that figure. About a week or so ago a considerable number of raids were made by the Garda on houses in Border areas. Seven of these raids were successful in the sense that they produced military equipment of one kind or another. Speaking from memory, approximately six military type weapons, several hundred pounds of explosives and 700 or 800 rounds of ammunition and other associated equipment——
How many prosecutions?
So far as I know about four prosecutions have been taken in respect of those raids and the papers have been referred to the Attorney General in respect of certain other ones because it is not clear who could be prosecuted, if anyone, as some of this equipment was found in areas where it was not clear who the owner was.
Can the Minister say if the specific article to which I referred in my question has been investigated by him or by the Garda with a view to ascertaining if it was a factual report of the activities as reported in that article, and with particular reference to the statement in the article that, on the conclusion of an evening's training, the members of the illegal organisation drove away from the camp and exchanged salutes with a Garda car parked close by?
I do not think that is a correct statement of what is in the article. There is mention of having passed a Garda car but not on the conclusion of an evening's training.
(Interruptions.)
We cannot discuss this question all evening.
We could, very usefully.
Other Deputies who have had questions on the Order Paper for the past two weeks might object. This question relates to one specific case and not to the entire country.
With respect, the last supplementary I asked was did the Minister investigate this report to see if it was a factual report.
The report is in the process of being very fully investigated. There is an assistant commissioner of the Garda Síochána in that area at the moment investigating this matter and inspecting the gardaí on the Border generally.
Will the Minister give a report to the House on the findings of the assistant commissioner in relation to this item?
These internal matters are normally regarded as confidential and I could not undertake in advance to give a report.
Surely 14 days is ample time.
Question No. 23.