asked the Minister for Justice if he will state by whose instruction and under what authority and for what purpose two uniformed Gárdaí entered the Mansion House, on the night of 18th June, on the occasion of a meeting held by the Irish Conference of Professional and Service Associations, and demanded the name and address of the chairman of the meeting and the names of the speakers thereat.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Mansion House Meeting.
It is the practice of the Gárda Síochána to take a note of every public meeting. In accordance with this practice, I understand that two members of the Gárda called at the meeting referred to by the Deputy, and asked the doorman whether he could furnish the names and addresses of the persons addressing the meeting. The doorman furnished the information voluntarily, and there was no question of a demand being made.
Is the Minister aware that the platform had to be referred to, and will he say whether he has no better way of getting information with regard to people who are in charge of a public meeting, a public meeting addressed in the Mansion House, than by sending uniformed Guards into the meeting as if it were a meeting for an improper purpose?
Mr. Boland
I understand that it has always been the practice, generally speaking, to send a plain clothes man, but on this occasion it appears there was not one available to send in the ordinary way. Except for the fact that on this occasion men in uniform were sent, there was nothing contrary to the usual practice adopted in the case of every meeting, no matter what the nature of the meeting. So I am informed.
Will the Minister look into the matter? This was a meeting held by very responsible people, people that there was no need to be suspicious of.
Mr. Boland
I can assure the Deputy that there was nothing special in it.
The suggestion was likely to be conveyed that this was interference with a view to casting aspersions on the object of the meeting. Perhaps the Minister will look into it and see that more satisfactory arrangements are made in future so as to avoid these misunderstandings.