asked the President (a) if his attention has been called to Press reports of a speech made by the Minister for Justice at Bonniconlon on June 10th last to the effect that, although there was not a thing that happened at an I.R.A. meeting of which he had not information before 24 hours, he does not act on such information; (b) if the Minister's neglect or failure to act on such information has been approved of as Government policy; (c) if the Gárda have been warned against or prevented from acting on such information; (d) if information which ordinarily would be sent to the Attorney-General for consideration as to whether prosecutions should follow is being withheld by the Minister; and (e) if the meeting of I.R.A. engineers or of other members of the I.R.A. held on Saturday, 10th February last, in Parnell Square was one about which the Minister had previous information and about which he did not act and is still refusing to act.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - A Minister's Speech.
The answer to part (a) of the question is in the affirmative and to parts (c), (d) and (e) in the negative. With regard to part (b), the policy of the Minister for Justice in dealing with such matters as those referred to by the Deputy has the full approval of the Executive Council. With regard to the Deputy's question generally, it contains implications which are entirely unjustified. Appropriate action is always taken on any information obtained by the Minister or the Gárda Síochána which indicates the likelihood of a breach of the peace or of an attack on the person or property of any citizen or section of citizens. In every country where uniformed semi-military organisations exist outside the control of the State, serious difficulties are experienced in maintaining public order. To judge from published reports of incidents abroad, these difficulties are being met at least as successfully here as in any other country.