Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Mar 1949

Vol. 114 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Call for Restoration of Republic.

asked the Minister for External Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a large advertisement in many Irish provincial newspapers purporting to be inserted by the Irish Republican Prisoners' Release Association, New York, which demands the restoration of the Irish Republic; and if the Government were consulted before the advertisement was inserted.

My attention has been drawn to the advertisement in question, since I received notice of the Deputy's question. The Government was not, of course, consulted.

Might I ask the Minister if he will draw the attention of this particular American organisation to the fact that their advertisement is offensive to the people of this country, in view of the case that it makes, if that organisation is a reputable one? If it is not, will he warn the Irish papers not to publish the advertisement?

The advertisement is one which, in the main, seems to request the release of political prisoners from Belfast Jail. The Government has no responsibility for the advertisement and the Government would not, I think, undertake to impose a censorship on newspapers.

Is the Minister aware that the advertisement also calls for the restoration of the Irish Republic and is he further aware that this organisation, in the opinion of most people in this country, is part and parcel of the Russian Fifth Column in the United States?

I have no information concerning the organisation.

Barr
Roinn