asked the Taoiseach if he has raised, at any time, with the British Premier, Mr. Callaghan, the question of granting political status to republican and socialist prisoners in H Block, Long Kesh; and, if not, if he will now make representations to the British Government on this issue.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Long Kesh Prisoners .
1.
: I have not raised with the British Premier the question of political status for prisoners at Long Kesh. I do not propose to make representations to the British Government on the issue.
: Is it a fact that in May of last year at Geneva we subscribed to a protocol allowing guerilla participants to claim prisoner of war status in a situation where war has not been declared? Is that true?
: I do not see its relevance to the situation.
: Is it not a fact that, if we subscribed to that concept, we could ask that it be implemented in a situation of this kind? We have intervened before where we felt our fellow citizens were being treated with undue hardship by the British in relation to Strasbourg.
: The Deputy ought to know well there are many implications to the question he is asking and I do not think he ought to pursue the matter.
: Question No. 2.
: Could I ask the Taoiseach——
: I have called the next question.
: Is it not a fact that a situation of virtual martial law exists in the North and, in these circumstances, would it not be reasonable to ask that these people who are captive and helpless and cannot do any more damage should be treated with some compassion?
: The persons to whom the Deputy has referred have been convicted of criminal acts and sentenced to imprisonment in the prison known as Long Kesh. There are not only prisoners who could be described, as the Deputy has described them in his question, as republican and socialist; there are prisoners who would describe themselves otherwise as well in Long Kesh convicted of similar type offences.