asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the direct diplomatic approaches made to the Polish authorities to express the absolute disapproval of the Irish people at their failure to discontinue martial law and internment and their decision to dissolve the Solidarity movement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Polish Martial Law.
2.
The Government have made known their deep concern at events in Poland on a number of occasions since I replied to a similar question from the Deputy on 25 March last.
Since the declaration of martial law in Poland in December of last year the Ten Governments of the European Community countries have repeatedly called for the lifting of martial law, the release of those arrested and the resumption of a genuine dialogue with the Catholic Church and Solidarity. These appeals were made at the level of Heads of State and of Government when the European Council met on 29/30 March last.
In my address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on 30 September I said that "the crisis of authority in Poland and the sustained repression of elementary social and civil rights contrary to the Helsinki Final Act undermine the credibility of detente" and that "as long as these conditions remain, they will hinder progress on a wide range of East-West negotiations including, in particular, the discussions at the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe".
A statement which I issued on behalf of the Government on 9 October, following the vote by the Polish Parliament in favour of legislation intended to, in effect, dissolve Solidarity, which up to then had merely been suspended, expressed the Government's deep disappointment and concern at these steps. The statement indicated that the Government regarded these steps as contrary to the objectives stated on several occasions by the Polish leadership to re-establish liberty and the process of reform and to resume dialogue with the various elements of Polish society. The statement recalled the appeals to the Polish authorities by the ten member states of the European Community to end martial law, release those arrested and restore a genuine dialogue with the Church and Solidarity; it added that the Government continue to call for an effective response by the Polish authorities to these appeals.