asked the Minister for Justice if he will state the grounds on which an American writer (name supplied) who came to this country to collect information for an article was refused entry into the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Leave to Land Refusal.
57.
As refusals of leave to land frequently involve a variety of considerations, some or all of which could not in the public interest be disclosed, it is not the practice to disclose the reasons for refusal in individual cases, at any rate to anybody other than the person affected.
Arising from the Minister's non-reply, is he aware that concern about this gentleman's exclusion from this country has been expressed by a number of prominent Americans, including the Senior Senator from Massachusetts, Edward Kennedy, and the head of the college where this gentleman teaches? There fore, would the Minister concede that it is possible that his Department may have been misinformed and may have made a mistake? On the basis of further representations that may be made to him will he look into the question of this gentleman's continued exclusion?
My Department have certain information in relation to this gentleman which satisfies me beyond any doubt that it is not in the national interest that he should enter this country.
Is the Minister aware that a reply of this kind does not add to the public repute of this country? This gentleman is extremely well known and his exclusion from here is the kind of action which, quite frankly, is taken by banana republics more than by countries with concern for their image in the world. We cannot accept this statement.
In fairness to the individual concerned I do not think I will go into the matter any more deeply.
The Minister has not gone into the matter at all.
That is just as well in view of some of the things that one could say about him and because of some of the other places from which he was excluded.