asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the report on the current Anglo-Irish studies, as presented on 11 November 1981 to both Houses of the Oireachtas, in dealing with citizenship rights, makes no mention of the Prevention of Terrorism Act as applied in Britain and under which close on 5,000 persons have been arrested and detained for up to seven days without any charges being preferred; and if he agrees that, since the Act is being applied in a racialist manner to Irish persons only, it constitutes a source of discrimination against and infringement of the human rights of Irish persons resident in or visiting Britain.
Written Answers. - Prevention of Terrorism Act.
280.
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Professor Dooge)
While the terms of reference of the Citizenship Joint Study Group did not specifically mention the Prevention of Terrorism Act, aspects of that legislation were discussed in the group and paragraph 49 contains an implicit reference to certain provisions of the Act.
We understand that the purpose of this Act is to deal with terrorism occurring in the United Kingdom and connected with Northern Ireland affairs and the fact of the matter is that the major part of the serious terrorism in Britain today derives from the Northern Ireland problem. Since the enactment of the British legislation in question, successive Irish Governments have been fully conscious of their right and duty to provide consular protection for Irish citizens in Britain.
Pursuant to their concern in this matter, my Department attaches the highest priority to efforts to ensure that the legislation is applied in an equitable and sympathetic manner consistent with established civil liberties and that abuses are avoided.