asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to ensure the safety of Irish people resident in South Africa in view of the continuing unrest in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Irish Residents in South Africa.
32.
Irish policy with regard to South Africa is aimed at putting pressure on the South African Government to persuade it to abandon its policies of apartheid, and so remove the root cause of the unrest.
I am not however in a position to take any measures within South Africa to ensure the safety of people living there or to protect peoples there from the effects of any unrest. It would be a matter for people there to assess their situation and take the steps they consider appropriate. However in appropriate cases where individual Irish citizens have encountered difficulties with the authorities in South Africa I have ensured that strong consular representations be made on their behalf.
Most Irish citizens in South Africa are also South African citizens, either because of their birth there or because of taking up residence there.