asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Wednesday 9 November, 1988 is the 50th anniversary of Kristallnacht and if, in commemoration of that outrage of anti-semitism, he is prepared to raise directly and bi-laterally with the Soviet authorities the position of many refusniks who, by virtue of their desire to learn more of their own history, religion, language and/or to move to the State of Israel, have lost their jobs, homes and in some cases their families, and have endured severe discrimination; and if, in the context of the Helsinki Final Act, the review of the CSCE and the proposals of the President of the Soviet Union for conveying of the conference on Human Rights in the Soviet Union in 1990, he is prepared to request the Soviet authorities to provide all refusniks with visas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Position of Refusniks in Russia.
I am, of course, aware that today marks the anniversary of Kristallnacht in 1938. I am sure that all Deputies will join in the Deputy's reference to this as an outrage of anti-semitism.
To turn to the separate question of the treatment of the Jewish community in the Soviet Union and the situation of those Jews who have been refused exit visas, these issues continue to be of concern to the Government. It is encouraging that the number of exit visas granted so far this year is the highest since 1980 and that new emigration laws are at present under consideration which should lead to further increases in the future. We hope to see further progress in this area. I continue to believe that the most appropriate and effective framework in which to voice our concern about Soviet policy in this area remains the meetings held within the context of the follow-up to the CSCE. The Irish delegation has used the opportunities offered by the follow-up meeting which has been taking place in Vienna since November 1986 to draw attention to the public and parliamentary concern in Ireland about the situation of Jews in the Soviet Union. Together with our partners in the Twelve, we have put forward proposals on freedom of religion, on the right to leave one's country and on the prevention of the abuse of national security grounds for restricting travel. I expect that the Concluding Document of the Vienna Meeting will include increased commitments on the part of all CSCE participating states including the Soviet Union in these areas.