Deputies Mac Giolla and De Rossa have been allowed to raise a Private Notice Question, addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Private Notice Question. - South African Death Sentences.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make immediate representations to the Government of South Africa to spare the lives of three members of the African National Congress who are due to be executed on Thursday 9 June, and if he will further ask Foreign Minister of the other EEC countries to join with him in a joint appeal to the South African authorities not to proceed with the executions.
The Government have expressed their concern about the fate of the three members of the African National Congress who are currently under sentence of death in South Africa. Ireland has appealed for the commutation of these sentences at the United Nations, both at the General Assembly and in the Security Council. On 7 December 1982 Ireland supported the adoption by the Security Council of a resolution calling on the South African Government to commute the death sentences.
Yesterday, the Security Council adopted a further resolution, Resolution 533, expressing grave concern about the decision of the South African authorities on 6 June to refuse executive clemency in respect of three members of the ANC, and calling on the South African authorities to commute the death sentences. We fully support this resolution.
Ireland does not have diplomatic relations with South Africa. Nonetheless, we and our partners in the EEC are deeply concerned about these sentences and we have been co-ordinating our actions in urging clemency. In fact, Ireland, for its part, earlier today urged further action by the Ten on the lines suggested in the Deputy's question.
I hope that the South African authorities will now heed the many calls for clemency from all over the world so that the lives of these three young men may yet be spared.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I thank him for having made these representations. Is he aware that the three people concerned left South Africa in 1976 as a result of the massacre in Soweto? Is he aware they have pleaded not guilty to these charges, that they were tortured by electric shock and that the confessions extracted from them were accepted by the judges? Does he agree that this is a question of human rights against racism? I am sure the Minister will agree that in international affairs South Africa stands apart from all other nations, irrespective of ideology, and that it is most important that Ireland as a neutral country should play its part through the EEC to try to ensure that these executions will not take place.
I am aware of all the matters set out by Deputy Mac Giolla, but my immediate concern must be to use whatever influence this country has to ensure that these sentences will be commuted before tomorrow morning.
I tried to have a Private Notice Question today addressed to the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in connection with the proposed deal between the Department of Posts and Telegraphs and a banking institution——
I ruled that that question did not meet the criteria laid down for Private Notice Questions and the Deputy was so informed.
I have to ask you to clarify that because I believe that the question is relevant——
If the Deputy wants to call to my office I will have a long discussion with him about it.
Would you allow me to raise the matter on the Adjournment——
I will communicate with the Deputy.
Considering that you know the contents of the question involved——
Yes, but I also know the other six.
Do you realise the implications it has——
The Deputy cannot argue——
Would the Chair allow me to raise in the House something of such importance? Would he allow me to raise this matter on the Adjournment?
The Chair will bear in mind all relevant matters when deciding which question to allow on the Adjournment.
I wish to say that I have had very little success when trying to raise matters on the Adjournment since I became spokesman on P & T. With respect to your position, I appeal to you to give fair play to each Deputy who has a relevant point.
The Deputy will resume his seat. The Deputy has made an allegation against the Chair and I must ask him to withdraw it.
I would ask you to check your facts in relation to this.
The Deputy has made an allegation against the Chair——
I would withdraw it but I should like you to investigate it.
I am asking Deputy Leyden to withdraw without qualification the suggestion he has made against the Chair.
I will withdraw it, but I appeal to the Chair. As Opposition spokesman, I say it is only right and proper that the largest party in the State should be given an opportunity to raise current important issues either as Private Notice Questions or on the Adjournment.
The Deputy will resume his seat or he will leave the House.
Will the Chair give me an opportunity to raise it on the Adjournment?
My office will be in touch with the Deputy. I take it he has withdrawn the allegation he made against the Chair.
Indeed, I have.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.