asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will now make a formal complaint to the Council of Europe of the breach by Britain of the right to life protected by Article 2 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in respect of the 13 deaths caused by the British Army in Derry on 30th January last.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Breach of European Convention.
11.
As the Taoiseach said in reply to a previous question, evidence is at present being collected with a view to making an application concerning a breach by the British Government of Article 2 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in respect to the illegal deprivation of life of 13 people in Derry on 30th January last.
Would the Minister endeavour to have the complaint and evidence presented at Strasbourg with the minimum of delay so as to avoid what arose in regard to the previous complaints which took from August to December before they were formulated and presented in Strasbourg?
The Deputy can be assured that this is being done with the greatest expedition.
12.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the appointment of Members of the Dáil who are not members of the Government to the Irish Delegation to the United Nations with a view to demonstrating to world opinion national unanimity on the means and desires to achieve peace with justice in Northern Ireland.
I am not sure that the suggestion in the Deputy's question would be the best way to achieve the purpose he has in mind. Furthermore, the next session of the General Assembly of the United Nations is not due to take place until September.
Could the Minister give me any basis for his belief that an all-party delegation is not the best way to approach the matter? Other governments use this method. Why is it that this method is not considered suitable by the Government here? method is not considered suitable by the Government here?
Governments have the ultimate responsibility in regard to these and all other matters of administration in government. An inter-party committee are being composed at present, as the Deputy knows.
It is not functioning and the Minister knows that.
Discussions are taking place with a view to its functioning.
If the committee are to be more than a mere rubber stamp of Fianna Fáil on Government decisions they must carry over into activities of the United Nations. That must happen if they are not simply to be a device for saying that something is happening when it is really an excuse for inactivity. Has the Minister any satisfactory follow-up to the first part of his reply?
I said that I was not sure whether the Deputy's suggestion would be the best way to achieve the objectives sought. An all-party committee would seem to be the best way to go about this business so that we do not engage in any counterproductive work on it.