asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to the British Home Office concerning their alleged prevention of an Irish prisoner (name supplied) in Wakefield Prison from writing to a friend in Ireland in Irish.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Prisoner in Britain.
20.
Our London Embassy raised this matter with the British Home Office last month and were informed that a prison regulation stipulates that persons who know English are normally required to write their letters in English.
The Embassy advised the prisoner of the regulation and the stated reason for its application.
The reason he wrote in Irish was because the person concerned could not read English.
Has the Minister made any representations?
They are continuing.
The Minister could make the point that the person to whom he was writing could not read English.
We could make the point but the Deputy must be aware from other things that the British do not always do what we ask them.
Surely Welsh is allowed to be written.
I would not be too sure.
Presumably a person would be allowed to write in Scots Gaelic?
The innocence of the Deputies amazes me.
In his reply the Minister said that the British do not do what he asks them to do. In view of the fact that the Minister recently described them as "lunatics" does he think this helps to get more co-operation from the British authorities when he makes representations on behalf of our citizens?
Lunatic policy.
Agree or disagree.
It was a political opinion and not a medical one.
Could a sane man make a lunatic policy?
That is a separate question.
Did our Ambassador point out that in our Constitution the Irish language is supposed to be the first language?
We have two official languages but the British prison authorities are not bound by our Constitution.
Is our Constitution recognised only here?
Would the Minister point out to the British authorities that if this prisoner receives correspondence in Irish he should be given the privilege of replying to that correspondence in Irish?
I have said representations are continuing.
Perhaps the Minister should conduct the remainder of his correspondence in Irish.