asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that some inmates of H-Block, Long Kesh, have been moved to hospital and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - Long Kesh Prisoners.
As the Deputy is aware, I have been in touch with the Northern Ireland Office about this matter in the course of the contacts which my officials and I regularly maintain with them. I do not need to repeat the principles which guide us on the H-Block issue and which the Taoiseach and I have stated in the House and elsewhere on previous occasions.
I am informed that there are three cases of protesting prisoners at present under treatment in Musgrave Park Hospital. It would not be appropriate to name the prisoners concerned or the nature of the ailments being treated. However, on the information available to me at present I am informed that the three prisoners are responding to treatment in the hospital. I can assure the House that I am, and will continue to remain, in close touch with the situation, both in regard to all aspects of the condition of the three individuals concerned and also the conditions of the protesting prisoners in general. I can also assure the House that, within the constraints imposed by the firm position of principles to which I referred earlier, the Government will use their influence to promote in every way possible a humane and compassionate approach to the problem and will continue to search for an equitable means of ending the degrading conditions which the prisoners have unfortunately brought upon themselves through their protests as well as the distress which it so unnecessarily causes to their parents and relatives.
When and how did the Minister become aware that these prisoners had been removed to hospital and what is the ongoing monitoring system established to keep him informed of such developments?
As the Deputy is aware, I first became aware of this matter two days ago when the Deputy, in communication with my Department, referred to the case of one of the prisoners. In the course of our subsequent inquiries we discovered that there were three prisoners under treatment. I should mention that they are not all recent admissions, as the Deputy's question implies. One of them has been in hospital for some weeks and is, we are informed, responding favourably to treatment. As regards the continuing contacts to which I referred, I can assure the Deputy and the House that at every level—at ministerial level, at official level and at ambassadorial level—we have been in regular contact with the Northern Ireland Office and have asked them to keep us informed of any developments on this issue, subject to the principles to which I have already referred. As a consequence of this continuing contact and concern which has been expressed through me on behalf of the Government, I hope that it will be possible to obtain some relief of the inhuman conditions and also to persuade the prisoners or those who direct them that their protest is not in anybody's interests.
Is it not clear that the undertaking to keep the Minister informed of significant events in this area has not been lived up to by the people concerned on the British side? Surely this is a breach of faith in so far as the Minister's understanding with his counterpart is concerned?
I would have expected and preferred to be made aware in advance by the authorities of these developments. I can only say that, as a consequence of contacts which we have had since, henceforth we expect to be fully informed.
Will the Minister keep as close a watch as possible on this development as it may well be the forerunner of what is unfortunately capable of being forecast as a deteriorating situation which may result in death? Regardless of the cause of these atrocious conditions, I hope the Minister will continue to endeavour to bring an end to these degrading conditions.
The House will agree that the people who have the first opportunity to end these appalling and degrading conditions are the prisoners themselves or, perhaps more correctly, those who direct them in this unfortunate protest. I would appeal to them to direct the prisoners to end their protest. To the extent that I can in the course of my contacts try to relieve the suffering which has been brought about by this decision, I will continue to endeavour to do so.
I thank the Minister for the information. From diligent inquiries which I have made, these people have not been directed by anybody. Surely the Minister and most members of the House will appreciate——
That is not a question.