asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs when representations were last made to the British Government for the release of the remaining internees in the Six Counties; and the result of these representations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Six-County Internees.
18.
The concern of the Irish Government about the system of detention as it operates in Northern Ireland has been made clear to the British Government. Since 14th March, 1973, various aspects of the question have been raised at meetings between Irish and British Ministers on 17 occasions. The most recent such meeting took place on 15th May, 1975.
The continuation of internment is making it more difficult to improve the political situation but the calculation of the rate at which the system can be dismantled involves security as well as political considerations and is therefore a matter primarily for those who have full information about the security as well as the political situation prevailing in Northern Ireland. It is our hope and the British Government are aware of it, that the ceasefire will continue and that internment in Northern Ireland will shortly be brought to an end.
Is it not strange that if internment is intended to serve any useful, purpose, there are now no Loyalist internees in any of the camps in the Six Counties but that the trouble continues in a very dangerous and bad way?
I accept that the fact that all of the Loyalist internees have been released before the completion of the releases of internees on the republican side creates an imbalance which is very difficult to explain or to justify.
Can the Minister say how many people are interned now?
That is a separate question.
As the figures change from week to week I could not give an accurate answer.
Can the Minister give an approximate figure?
I should say between 200 and 300 but I would not wish to mislead the Deputy.
Is it not strange not to bring to the attention of the British Government the fact that although there are now no Loyalists interned, this contrasts very much with the activities of the para-military groups and the extreme Loyalists in the past and up to the present?
This, like other aspects of the problem, has been drawn to the attention of the British authorities.
The Minister has stated that on 17 occasions since March, 1973 the Irish Government have made representations on this matter to the British authorities. Can he indicate to the House what was the response from the British to these representations and, in particular, what response there has been to the representations made in May this year?
The response has varied both with the nature and specific character of the representations and according to the political situation. The question is a very difficult one to answer generally. Some of our representations have seemed to secure results while others have not secured an evident response at the time they were made. During the period the Deputy refers to and since the beginning of this year there has been a regular rate of release of prisoners. This is in line with the policy that we consider should be pursued and which should have been pursued a good deal earlier.
Would the Minister——
This must be the final supplementary on this question.
——consider communicating with Mr. Rees who promised that if a ceasefire were maintained there would be an increased release of prisoners? This promise has not been fulfilled although the ceasefire is still in operation.
The tempo of release of internees has been maintained in general although following an occasion when murder was committed and admitted to and claimed by the Provisional IRA, the tempo of relief was reduced for a period in response to that action which by any standards was a breach of the so-called ceasefire and was totally indefensible.
What does the Minister mean by "the so-called ceasefire?"
Question No. 19 please. We must move on to the next question.
I would like to know what the Minister means by "the so-called ceasefire".
It is a separate matter.
A ceasefire during which people continue to commit murder cannot be called a ceasefire without some qualification.
May I ask the Minister——
I have called the next question.
——if it is not true that there are as many interned today as when the ceasefire started?