asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the information that is available about the application of the Prevention of Terrorism Act to citizens of the Republic.
15.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - UK Prevention of Terrorism Act.
14.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Irish citizens who have been detained at points of entry to Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in each of the years since its promulgation.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.
The provisions of the UK Prevention of Terrorism Act within Great Britain and Northern Ireland apply to all persons irrespective of citizenship. Any Irish citizen who is in any doubt about his position under the Act should contact my Department or the Irish Embassy in London, where every effort will be made to give all appropriate information.
The administration of the Act is of course the responsibility of the UK authorities and I have direct information only about such cases as are drawn specifically to my attention. I am, however, aware from figures published by the British authorities that 2,222 persons were detained at ports in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts from their entry into force up to 7 April 1978. This figure can include those leaving as well as entering Britain. While no official information is available on the citizenship of those detained, I understand that the vast majority of those detained have Irish citizenship. There is no breakdown available by calendar year of the numbers detained at points of entry into Britain but the following numbers were detained at ports in consecutive periods since the entry into force of the 1974 Act:
|
24 November 1974-21 July 1975 |
338 |
|
21 July 1975-16 February 1976 |
416 |
|
16 February 1976-11 January 1977 |
747 |
|
11 January 1977-28 February 1977 |
136 |
|
1 March 1977-28 February 1978 |
554 |
|
1 March 1978-7 April 1978 |
31 |
Would the Minister agree that from the point of view of our citizens this shows a continuous escalation of harassment of our people coming from and going to Britain and that he has a responsibility to be interested in more than the people who are drawn to his attention? Surely it is the responsibility of our diplomatic service to know what is happening to Irish citizens in such circumstances, and he should take a more positive attitude to this.
For clarification, I agree that when figures are read like that it might seem to show an escalation. It does not; if anything there is a diminution. That is not to say that we are very satisfied. Our Ambassador and our Embassy in London have taken a very positive role in relation to this. They have maintained constant liaison and contact with the British authorities to ascertain as quickly as possible what citizens, if any, are being held from time to time and what assistance and advice are available to them. I assure the Deputy that this is a matter in which we will continue to ensure that our citizens are fully and properly advised and also properly protected as to their rights.
Question No. 16.
The Minister has suggested that anybody who is worried should write to his Department to find out what the position is. Is it not our responsibility to tell our citizens here and everywhere else what the possible implications are for them under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, so that if they go to Britain they will go with their eyes open and not be surprised? It is no good asking somebody who is detained under this Act to write to the Minister to ask what is the position. It is too late then to shut the stable door.
When I said that any citizen who is in any doubt about his position should contact my Department or the Irish Embassy I was not suggesting that that was the end of our concern. That is one element. My Department and our Embassy in London are, of their own initiative, maintaining constant liaison with the British authorities and ensuring that our citizens are being fully advised and protected.
Has the Minister in his brief the information which would indicate for the period that he quoted the percentage of people detained under the Act who were subsequently charged under British law?
While I may not have it to hand, I can tell the Deputy that it is very small.
Could it be responsibly applied?
If it is a very small percentage I suggest that he raise the operation of this legislation with the British Government.
I have the information here. The total number of persons detained and subsequently charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism Act is 142. The number of others charged with non-prevention of terrorism offences is 229.
That is 20 per cent.
Approximately.
Is it not worse than that in this way? The answer the Minister gave us concerned only people referred to him. There might be many more people than that. The percentage might be even worse, showing a greater level of irresponsibility by the British force treating us as wogs, as the remains of the rump of their empire. The Minister should stand up for our citizens.
The Minister has been doing so. I am not questioning the Deputy's right to raise this matter publicly, but it is not always by making public noise in a House of Parliament that one does the most effective and most consistent thing. If the Deputy thinks that the measure of my success will be the noise I will be making in this House of Parliament he is mistaken.
May I ask the Minister——
There has been an improvement in the position over the last six to nine months.
(Interruptions.)
We are getting into argument and it will not be tolerated. I am calling Question No. 16, which will be the last question today.
May I ask one last supplementary question?
We are talking about people with addresses in the Republic and people in the North of Ireland who hold Irish passports. Does the Minister differentiate between them?
No.
Is he dealing with people who hold addresses in the North of Ireland also?
Yes.
That is a separate question. I am calling Question No. 16.
How is that a separate question if it concerns Irish citizens?
The Deputy may put down a question.