asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that Irish political prisoners in British jails are still being held in solitary confinement and under conditions which are an infringement of the Convention on Human Rights.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prisoners in British Jails
3.
Irish citizens at present serving prison sentences in Britain have been convicted of criminal offences under British law.
Where appropriate, the cases of individual prisoners in Britain and indeed other foreign countries are raised with the competent authorities. General questions, such as the removal of prisoners from association (commonly referred to as "solitary confinement") are also kept under continuous review and are pursued with the competent authorities as appropriate.
The question of whether the conditions of prisoners in Britain infringe the Convention of Human Rights is for the organs of the Convention to determine. Applications have been lodged with the Commission on behalf of a number of prisoners but have not yet been determined. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on these cases at this stage. Where any prisoner abroad or his immediate family feel that the conditions of imprisonment are such as to warrant intervention on his behalf, the matter should be raised either directly with me or with the appropiate Irish Embassy.
On what sources does the Minister rely for his information as to the condition and treatment of prisoners in English jails? Secondly, is he aware that there is available firsthand information of the abuse some of these prisoners have suffered, the injuries and damage done to them in a personal physical sense, and whether he, as Minister, has been doing and will do or has any way of doing anything in regard to alleviating this dreadful situation? These prisoners are not being treated as common criminals. They are being treated in a specific horrific manner because of their idealism and their ideology.
A question, please. There is no need to elaborate.
With regard to the sources of information available to me, the Deputy will understand they are necessarily varied. He will also understand, I hope, that I cannot publicly disclose the exact nature and extent of the information, but I can tell the Deputy that the information is very considerable and the concern of my Department and of our embassy in London has, indeed, been acknowledged to me more than once and, I believe, publicly also by those most directly involved in humanitarian concern for these prisoners. I can assure the Deputy we remain in constant contact at every appropriate level with the authorities concerned.
Is the Minister satisfied that he is having made available to him reliable and full information as to the special, particular treatment these prisoners are getting, to their detriment, and is he aware of the physical damage and injuries, broken bones and broken noses and all the rest, perpetreated on these people?
Let me say that I can never be satisfied that such information available to me in respect of conditions in Long Kesh or elsewhere outside our jurisdiction is the full information. That would be to assume I had immediate responsibility, something which neither I nor the Government have. Subject to that, let me say that the nature and level of the information available to us is such as to make me satisfied that we are being kept informed within that qualification. However, if Deputy Blaney or any other Deputy, individual or family want to communicate with me or my Department in respect of conditions in Britain or elsewhere we will be only too glad to hear from them.
Without in any way associating myself with the language or statements of Deputy Blaney, will the Minister neverthless agree that there is enough evidence to suggest that there is a problem in relation to some Irish prisoners in British jails that the situation requires monitoring to ensure that the problems that exist do not lead to a situation which should not be tolerated in any prison system?
I am very anxious that our diplomatic representatives in Britain or elsewhere will show the fullest possible awareness and concern for problems arising. This has been particularly promoted in our embassy in London. Subject to that I am endeavouring to keep myself fully informed so that I can make the proper contacts to alleviate the problems that exist.
I thank the Minister for his offer to listen to anything that might come his way, but from the limited, reliable information that he can get is the Minister satisfied that these prisoners are being treated properly as prisoners?
I wish I could be satisfied. Obviously, information is not always as complete as I would wish it to be and to that extent I cannot be satisfied. There are and have been grounds for concern which we are investigating and I have communicated them. I hope that our communications have to a considerable extent alleviated some of the matters that have been brought to our attention.
Question No. 4. We cannot spend all day on this question.
May I ask the Minister finally, because of the dissatisfied state of mind which he undoubtedly is in in regard to the condition of these prisoners in the English prisons, will the Minister really kick up a stink with his British counterpart to do something about it to change the situation?
That is the same question.
The Deputy will have to leave it to me and my departmental advisers to conduct discussions with my counterpart in the way that we think most effective.
Using your own sense of smell.
Question No. 4.