asked the Minister for Justice (1) the number of arrest made in 1982 under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 in (i) the State as a whole and (ii) the DMA; and if he will state in respect of (1) (i) and (ii) how many of these arrest led to (a) appearances before the Special Criminal Court and convictions; (b) the number of extension orders for a second period of 24 hours questioning which were signed by a Chief Superintendent; and (c) the number of these arrests which were in respect of (i) ordinary crime and (ii) political crime and subversion.
Written Answers. - Offences Against the State Act Arrests.
457.
Limerick East): During 1982,2,308 persons were arrested under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939; 1,207 of these were arrested in the Dublin Metropolitan Area.
Of those arrested, 92, including 41 who had been arrested in the DMA, appeared before the Special Criminal Court. A total of 74 convictions was recorded against these persons; 39 of these convictions were in respect of persons arrested in the DMA.
Extension orders for a second period of questioning were signed in 298 cases, 115 of them in respect of persons detained in the DMA.
With regard to the final part of the question the law does not make any distinction between "ordinary" crime and what the Deputy refers to as "political crime and subversion".
An arrest under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939 may be made where a person is suspected by a member of the Garda Síochána of involvement in the commission of —
(a) an offence under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, or
(b) an offence which is a Scheduled Offence under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.