asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of a recent interview by a BBC 1 staff reporter of an alleged member of a terrorist organisation (details supplied); if the Irish security forces were aware of the arrangements for the interview; the action the Government have taken on this matter and if he will make a statement on the allegations in this interview concerning the assassination of the late Mr. Airey Neave and the method of collection of funds by this organisation in Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - BBC Terrorist Interview.
17.
I am aware of the fact that such an interview was broadcast on a BBC television programme on 5 July. I am informed by the Garda Síochána that they were not aware of the arrangements for this interview—indeed it is scarcely conceivable that they could become aware of such a thing in advance unless somebody were to give them a tip-off.
As the Deputy possibly may be aware, there was nothing new in the interview in relation to the murder of Mr. Airey Neave. The organisation calling themselves the Irish National Liberation Army had already claimed in a statement published in the press that they were the organisation responsible for the murder and it was widely accepted that that was the position. Certainly the Garda authorities do not doubt it and, moreover, the Garda say that there is good reason to believe that the primary source of revenue of that organisation comes from the proceeds of armed bank robberies.
One of the many problems that arise in relation to a programme of this kind is the impression it is liable to give that members of paramilitary organisations are walking about openly in Dublin, or elsewhere in the State, plotting murders and other crimes of violence in Northern Ireland or, as in this case, England. The reality is that the organisation in question just like the provisional IRA are an organisation that exist in the North as well as here, and that members—by which I mean known members—of both organisations are walking about openly and freely in Northern Ireland, as indeed they are at times in this State, the explanation in both cases being that the evidence is not available to convict them in court.
Unfortunately, there is no quick or easy solution to the problems posed by these organisations, which exist and operate both north and south of the Border. In so far as the position in this State is concerned, control of paramilitary activities will depend in part on the work of the Garda and in part on attitudes in the community. The Garda Síochána must, and I am certain will in fact, keep up the long hard grind of doing everything they lawfully can do to hamper paramilitary activities and to make detections when crimes are committed. So far as community attitudes are concerned, it is a matter of all of us maintaining a clear undeviating attitude that there is no place for and no condoning of these activities.
Have the Government made any protest to the British Government about the consorting of a British citizen in Dublin with a known and self-professed terrorist and bank robber? In these circumstances have the Government taken any action?
The main thrust of the Deputy's question is whether the Irish Government have protested to the British Government but that is not a matter that would be specifically in my area of operations. However, to the best of my knowledge the answer to the Deputy's question is in the negative.
Does he consider it appropriate that this should be done in view of the fact that a British citizen came to Dublin and consorted with a terrorist, did not contact the security forces here, and interviewed this person who professed to have murdered a citizen of another country and also professed to be engaged in bank robberies, although admittedly it was expressed more elegantly? In that context, does the Minister not think we should contact the British Government and advise them that we do not wish to have British citizens acting in that manner in Dublin?
It is a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs when it comes to lodging complaints with other Governments on matters such as this. I can only give a personal opinion. I certainly do not approve of what happened. It was wrong, and it was extremely dangerous. It could have sparked off a reaction from the Unionists in the North who could come down here and create terrible trouble. It was extremely inflamatory. It was reckless and careless. That is a personal opinion.
And criminal.
Does the Minister not think it odd that foreigners can come here, seek out and interview a person such as the person interviewed? Is there not something lacking in the security net when this can be done, and our police force cannot seek out the same information and get the people who have been interviewed? In view of the fact that the BBC authorities have made their information available to Scotland Yard, will the Minister be seeking this information from Scotland Yard, or is it his intention to interview the BBC personnel and get the information from them?
To deal with the first part of the Deputy's question, it is an extremely difficult one to answer, in that I do not think any of us would want a situation in which foreign journalists, whether they be newspaper or television people, coming into this country should be screened by our security forces. I do not think anybody would want that for a start. Secondly, with regard to the BBC being able to seek out these persons and the Garda not, perhaps we could look at that in another way. Very often persons such as the INLA representative seek out the media for their own propaganda purposes and therefore the BBC might not have any difficulty in making contact with them. It is a completely different matter for the Garda to meet these people and for them to talk as freely to the Garda, or any other police force in any other country.
May I ask the Minister to clarify a point which I do not think he has answered? In view of the fact that the BBC seem to be co-operating with the authorities, and allegedly made it clear that they would not feel obliged to withhold any information, will the Minister adopt the normal procedure and send members of the Garda to interview the people concerned and get the necessary information with a view to tracking down the person concerned?
I understand the British authorities and also the British police authorities have been in touch with the BBC. I know the Garda authorities have been in touch with the British police force in connection with this matter. As the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot reveal what has gone on between the two police forces. I know the Garda and the British police force are very anxious to deal with the situation as best they possibly can. I am not familiar with what appeared in the statement on behalf of the BBC that all the information at their disposal would be made available to the British police force. I did not see that statement. I accept that it was made. From our point of view, the Garda have been in touch with the British police in an effort to deal with the situation.