I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 43 and 58 together.
I would refer the Deputies to my statement in the House on 26 February 1997 in the Adjournment Debate which gave a full account of my action in the case of Róisín McAliskey to that date. Since that date, on my instructions the Irish Embassy in London has continued to monitor closely Ms McAliskey's circumstances. The Embassy has been in continuous contact with British officials to follow up on the humanitarian concerns I expressed to the British Ambassador on 19 February 1997. Ms McAliskey was visited again yesterday by an Embassy official and she has now received five consular visits of this kind. The Embassy has also been active in facilitating visits by Members of this House and other public representatives. An Embassy official attended the hearing in Bow Street magistrate's court on 12 March 1997 when Ms McAliskey was further remanded to 9 April 1997.
On 7 March 1997 the British Embassy advised my Department that Ms McAliskey's security classification was being revised downwards from category A high risk to category A standard risk and this would facilitate a more flexible approach by the Governor of Holloway Prison, particularly in terms of her access to various facilities in the prison.
I raised Ms McAliskey's case with the Secretary of State, Mr. Patrick Mayhew at the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference which was held in Dublin on 12 March 1997. I strongly reiterated the widespread humanitarian concern about her treatment and that of her unborn child. I urged that she should be allowed to keep her baby after the birth and that the British authorities should make clear there was no question of her being shackled before, during or after it. The Secretary of State made clear at his subsequent press conference that Ms McAliskey will not be restrained either during her journey to and from hospital for the birth or during her stay there. I welcome the decision announced the day after the conference meeting that Ms McAliskey will be allowed to keep her baby after birth and to use the mother and child unit at Holloway Prison.
The House will be aware that a further application for bail by Ms McAliskey was denied by the High Court in London on 14 March 1997. The Irish Embassy in London remains in close contact with the British authorities on all aspects of her care and she will be visited again on my instructions very shortly.
From contact we have had at senior official level with German officials with a view to clarifying the position of the German authorities regarding the question of bail for Ms McAliskey, I understand the German authorities have now made clear again to the British Crown Prosecution Service that the German request of 17 December 1996 for Ms McAliskey to be detained pending extradition to Germany stands. The German authorities have also stated their view that the enforcement of this request is a matter for the British courts which must decide on bail applications.
I have emphasised before that the Government's concern in this case is a humanitarian one. Ms McAliskey's treatment while she is in custody pending a decision on the German extradition application is a matter for the British authorities and I have pursued our concern vigorously with them. The improvements in her treatment which have recently been announced are to be welcomed, but I assure the Deputies we will continue to monitor closely all developments in this case.