Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Issues.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

112 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with the British auth orities the position of persons exiled from Northern Ireland under threat of death or violence from paramilitary organisations; if an estimate is available to his Department of the number of people in this position; if he has raised their situation with those political parties in Northern Ireland believed to have connections with paramilitary organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23728/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I welcome this opportunity to reiterate the Government's unequivocal condemnation of the abhorrent practice of paramilitary ‘exiling'. The Good Friday Agreement recognised the right of all citizens to freely choose their place of residence. There is no possible justification for any group from either community in Northern Ireland arrogating to itself the power to summarily override this fundamental right.

The British authorities have confirmed, through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, that no figures are available on the number of people forced to leave Northern Ireland. Given the nature of the problem, neither the groups involved in intimidation and coercion, nor the victims of it, make the information available to the authorities.

The Government once again urges all parties who may have influence with paramilitary organisations to do all they can to end immediately this scourge on society, and to allow those already ‘exiled' to return safely to their homes.