asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs with regard to the recent spate, in an international context, of kidnappings, hijacking of aircraft and the holding as hostages of many persons of different nationalities, whether he, or the Foreign Ministers of the EEC or of the Council of Europe, will take any new initiatives to ensure effective expeditious international action to stamp out and punish the perpetrators of such heinous crimes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aircraft Hijackings.
12.
The Government discussed recent developments in connection with the hijacking of aircraft at their meeting on 21st October, 1977. A statement issued after that meeting indicated inter alia the Government's belief that the most effective way of combatting terrorism in civil aviation is through international action at governmental level. The Government also declared their willingness to join in international consideration of further effective measures to outlaw hijacking, the taking of hostages and similar crimes. The Irish delegation to the current 32nd session of the United Nations General Assembly had been directed to support proposals for urgent consideration of the question. Ireland has, therefore, joined with other nations at the General Assembly in requesting the inclusion, as a matter of urgency of an additional item entitled “safety of international civil aviation” in the agenda of the 32nd session. Additionally, Ireland has cosponsored a draft resolution which inter alia appeals to all states, not yet parties to three international conventions dealing with air piracy, to consider urgently their becoming bound by these conventions. Ireland has already ratified the conventions (Tokyo Convention of 1963, The Hague Convention of 1970 and the Montreal Convention of 1971) and the provisions of these conventions have been embodied in our legislation.
The Minister has told us what is happening at the United Nations. One does not want to reflect on that august body but one knows it takes time to produce results. Can he say if the Council of Ministers or the Commission have any specific proposals for Europe—or, indeed, the Council of Europe which is a wider body than the EEC—and whether any specific new action is proposed in Europe having regard to what appears to be a developing trans-European conspiracy of a hijacking nature?
I can assure the Deputy that as far as the Community is concerned action has already been taken on foot of a European Council declaration of 12th-13th July, 1976. On foot of that a working party has been set up within the Community on which we are represented by officials from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Justice. Four meetings of this group have been held to date with a view to arriving at some conclusion such as is envisaged by the Deputy whereby the Community can take positive action in this area as well as the United Nations.
Is the Minister happy with the security arrangements at Irish airports and at foreign airports used by Irish airlines?
That is a separate question.
That would be widening the scope a good deal.
13.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will consider as a solution to the international aircraft hijacking problem an international convention where all countries who are party thereto would refuse asylum to hijackers and, with the co-operation of the Airline Pilots' Association, would enforce a blacking of all countries who refuse to sign such a convention; and if he will take steps to institute discussions on such a convention.
The Irish delegation to the current 32nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly has co-sponsored a draft resolution which has three main elements: first, a call to all states to take the necessary steps, taking into account the relevant recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, to prevent acts of aerial hijacking or other wrongful interference with civil air travel; second, an appeal to those states, which have not yet done so, to become parties to the three international conventions dealing with air offences; and third, a request to the International Civil Aviation Organisation to undertake urgently further efforts with a view to ensuring the security of air travel.
On the subject of suspension of airline services, a proposal was put forward at an Extraordinary Conference of ICAO held in Rome in 1973 to the effect that member states of ICAO should refuse facilities to the airlines of states which accepted or harboured hijackers. No agreement proved possible on this proposal. I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by raising this or a similar proposal at this point.
May I ask the Minister why does he not consider that raising this matter again at the ICAO level might not be a good idea?
Yes, I shall put that to the Minister. There is no doubt about our bona fides in that area : we are totally committed to international governmental action and I shall put the Deputy's suggestion to the Minister.
In the light of the undoubted delay that seems to occur in regard to any matter raised at the UN, does the Minister accept that other steps in other areas should be taken to deal with this problem?
That is why I outlined in a previous reply the steps that are being taken within a Community framework to deal with it. Certainly, we can also pursue the matter with ICAO and I shall draw the attention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to what the Deputy suggests.
Does the Minister think this proposal might seem to be a reasonable solution to the problem?
We are prepared to pursue every possible proposal, with ICAO, with the United Nations and with the Community and within the framework of these organisations to which we belong to achieve the objective to which we fully subscribe, to ensure that this activity shall cease. It can only be stopped effectively by interGovernmental action on an agreed basis.
With regard to the type of agreement implied in the question, have the Irish Government taken any action to secure Irish airports and Irish planes using foreign airports?
That is a separate question.
That is a security matter which is being handled by our airport authorities and, I am certain, being handled competently.