Vol. 559 No. 5
84 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised with political parties, associations and paramilitary organisations, the continued exclusion of several hundred people from Northern Ireland by these paramilitary organisations; the response he has received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26525/02]
The Government has consistently condemned the paramilitary "exiling" of people from their place of residence as an abuse of their human rights. The right of all citizens to freely choose where they wish to live is a fundamental right which has been recognised in the Good Friday Agreement. The flagrant and egregious breaching of this right by paramilitary groups is unjustifiable. I have frequently called on all the political parties associated with paramilitary organisations to make every effort to get those organisations to desist, and to ensure that all "exiles", wherever they currently reside, can return safely to their homes.
One of the difficulties associated with the issue of exiling has been the absence of accurate information available on the extent of the practice. This issue has been the subject of discussions with the British authorities who have informed us that, while statistics on reported incidents of general intimidation are maintained, official figures are neither compiled nor issued by the police on the number of people exiled by paramilitaries. However, media reports earlier this year estimated that several hundred people have been forced from their homes and are currently unable to return.
As the Taoiseach has previously made clear, the best way of ending these practices is through community-wide support for policing.
Question No. 85 answered with Question No. 41.
Question No. 86 answered with Question No. 60.
