asked the President if he will now state whether it is the intention of the Executive Council to release all political prisoners, tried and untried, before the Dáil adjourns for the summer.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - RELEASE OF PRISONERS.
asked the President if his attention has been drawn to a statement in the Press to the effect that there were many more persons interned in the Saorstát than in Northern Ireland, and whether, in view of this, he would consider the immediate release of all prisoners taken in the recent hostilities.
I propose to answer questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. There are at present only 123 persons interned, and releases are proceeding as speedily as possible. I can not undertake to specify a date by which all these men will be released. One hundred and four sentenced prisoners are still in custody. These prisoners have themselves occasioned delay by refusing to avail of the facilities afforded them to have their cases reviewed by a judicial tribunal in connection with the Indemnity Act of last year. All the cases, however, have now been generously considered, and His Excellency the Governor-General will be advised to remit the unexpired portion of their sentences in all cases except those guilty of ordinary crimes.
I understand that there are over 250 internees detained by the Northern Government, and consequently it is obvious that the statement referred to by Deputy Hogan is incorrect.
Is the President aware that in the reply from the Secretary of the Cabinet of Northern Ireland the implication is that their justification for holding the internees and prisoners in Northern Ireland is founded on the fact that the Saorstát is holding prisoners of proportionately equal number?
I have read that statement. They held their prisoners, in the first place, before we did. In the second place, I think they distinguish as between sentenced political prisoners and ordinary political prisoners. In our case the two classes were in one —that is, the internees and the prisoners sentenced. Now, I have before me cases in which the sentences have been reviewed, and it is obvious from that review that some prisoners are not correctly described as "political prisoners." In other words, they are persons against whom crimes have been proved, and no case was made here that they should be released. One of the difficulties in the case is that while internees proper—that is, political prisoners or persons interned for political reasons—do themselves object to being mixed with persons charged with crimes, or "criminals," as they call them, they give us no assistance in the matter of identification. It is consequently our duty to distinguish between them, to divide them and to treat them accordingly. That is being done as rapidly as possible.
Will the President say how many of the prisoners whose sentences have been reviewed are still detained as individuals against whom crime has been proven?
I cannot say at the moment. I think there is notice of a question of that kind for next week, and I hope to deal with it then.
Can he say if there are a considerable number?
I hesitate to give a number. Speaking from recollection, I should say that there are certainly 9, but possibly 40.
Mr. O'CONNELL
Will the Minister say if these prisoners were sentenced by civil courts or by military courts?
Military courts.
Will the President state, in cases which are quite plain to him, and to the public generally—take, for instance, the case of Stack—if it is proposed to release before the adjournment for summer? That was exactly what I meant.
I cannot answer that question directly. The whole matter is under consideration, and it is being expedited as much as possible. Of course, connected with this matter of ordinary political prisoners, there is the question of soldiers—men who joined the National Army, and who were charged in respect of offences which would be on a par with those committed by political prisoners. I have had a review of those cases also. I do not expect to be able to give the Dáil a satisfactory answer until somewhere about the end of next week.
I will try and help the President in his consideration by raising this question on the adjournment.
It will not help me one bit.
What is the question to be raised on the adjournment?
The further detention of the prisoners.
That is political prisoners, tried and untried?
Yes.