The subject matter of this debate is very sensitive. We all realise there is a serious problem with terrorists moving into and out of Britain and that there must be tremendous vigilance to ensure that these people do not travel at will, carrying arms and explosives which endanger the lives of the general public and security forces. But from my observations over a number of years travelling to and from Britain there is a number of immigration officers at ports and airports in Britain whose attitude is not conducive to good relations between the people of Ireland and the British authorities.
Time and time again I have seen decent, hard working people going about their business being harassed and humiliated at various points of entry and exit in Britain. I ask the Minister to take up this matter with his counterpart and also to have it raised by the British-Irish Inter-parliamentary Group, who meet frequently to discuss security matters and matters of mutual interest between Ireland and England. The main area of abuse of authority is at Heathrow Airport where people are repeatedly humiliated by having their personal belongings put on public display. Whether they be in a hold-all, suitcase or briefcase, the contents are just thrown onto a table for everybody to see, and that is not good enough. Surely people are entitled to privacy in such circumstances. They are entitled to be treated in a humane and proper manner.
There are bad eggs, as it were, in the British system, as we have seen during the past 20 years through the Birmingham Six, Guildford Four, Maguire family and Judith Ward cases, the people concerned, whether they be the Judiciary, in the police force, the prison force or the immigration service are not suitable for the positions they hold. I had a particularly humiliating experience while passing through Glasgow Airport recently when an immigration officer, upon learning I was an Irish politician travelling on legitimate parliamentary business from a meeting of the Council of Europe, suddenly became very hostile and particularly unpleasant. I am not pleading my own case here tonight but just giving it as an example. Thousands of Irish people are every year treated like criminals at airports such as Heathrow. Birmingham used to have a reputation of similar proportions. It was a place where Irish people would be hassled irrespective of whether they were innocent.
This attitude seems to pervade the British establishment and must stop. It gives sustenance and succour to terrorist groups and their sympathisers. Genuine people must be safeguarded. That type of humiliating treatment must stop. If people have to be searched it should be done in private. The interrogation should be done by responsible fair minded people who do not have a grudge against the Irish race. There is a certain percentage of the immigration authorities who seem to have it in for us. It is not good enough. I do not wish to be unduly harsh as this is a sensitive issue, but I want to see some action taken.
