asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that citizens of this State and other Irish citizens who are seized by the forces of the British Crown in Ireland are being held for long periods without trial in what amounts to virtual internment; and if he will make strong representations to the British Government about this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Detention of Irish Citizens.
4.
I am aware that for some time an understandable concern has been voiced from a number of sources at the delays which are occurring in bringing accused persons to trial in Northern Ireland. From my general contacts and those in relation to specific cases which arise from time to time I am satisfied that the competent authorities are aware of this concern and I am informed that they are considering various administrative measures designed to improve the situation.
Can the Minister regard as anything except internment under another name that there are seven citizens of this State in custody on remand from as far back as January 1977? Is the Minister aware, and can he describe it as anything except internment under another name, that there are six members of this State from Donegal who were "lifted" last Easter Sunday, who have been treated in like manner, and that all of them come under the most recent edict of Mr. Roy Mason when he decided, because of an industrial dispute, that the production of the body in the court was no longer a necessary part of the legal procedure in the Six Counties? What have we done or what will we do about this?
Almost every Deputy and others who could have any knowledge of this have been in constant touch with me. I have conveyed those communications. I welcome the information given because it enables us to prove the veracity and the accuracy of our communication and the degree of our concern. I am concerned at any undue delays such as those which have taken place in remand procedures. I have conveyed that concern and as I told the Deputy in my reply I am sure that that concern is acknowledged. I have been informed that certain administrative steps have now been taken to improve the situation.
Question No. 5.
Is there not the gravest reason to believe that the long delays on remand are solely for the purpose of wearing people down to get the people to make admissions that incriminate them and will ultimately result in their being locked up for half of their lifetime? Is that not what it is all about?
All who are concerned for the rule of law will recognise that long remand periods are a matter for concern. We are concerned that some people have been held on remand for a long time and when eventually they were brought to trial the prosecution indicated that they were not proceeding and the result of this was that these people had been held on remand for a considerable time and then released. I assure the Deputy that I will continue to make, I hope, fairly effective contacts in that connection.
Will the Minister express particular concern——
I can communicate about individual cases.
——in regard to the citizens of this State, since we seem to be so reluctant to rock the boat in regard to anything that is outside our supposed jurisdication? Can we have a go at them about 20 months on remand? Is not this a scandal in a supposedly civilised state?
I assure the Deputy, because of the general consensus that exists in the House for fundamental rights for the basis of political development through peace, we are in a very secure boat indeed and any representations I make will be heard on that basis.
20 months——
We are not concerned about rocking the boat.
It would be in order to point out that there are no Irish citizens other than citizens of this State. There are not two categories. We are concerned with any Irish citizens, wherever they may reside.
I have said that.
Deputy Blaney talks about citizens of this State and other Irish citizens. There are no others, they are all citizens of this State.
I am glad the Deputy accepts that the State is the 32 counties.
Question No. 5.