asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will state the date on which representations were first made by the Irish Government to the British Government to have the remains of Roger Casement returned to Ireland, and on what subsequent dates similar representations were made; and the dates and nature of the official British replies.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Casement Remains.
The records show that the question of the return to Ireland of the remains of Roger Casement was raised with the British Government when Mr. J.R. Clynes was Home Secretary in 1929-1931. Following rumours that Pentonville Prison was to be demolished, a formal request for the return of the remains was made in January, 1936. A reply, refusing the request, was received the following month. Since then, numerous approaches have been made to members of the British Government.
The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to divulge the contents of the communications from the British Government on this matter. I can, however, tell him that they do not differ in substance from statements made in the British House to the effect that, apart from legal difficulties, the return of the remains would not tend to improve relations between the two countries but rather the reverse.
The Ambassador in London has instructions to keep the matter constantly in view in his conversations with representatives of the British Government but I regret to say that the soundings he has been making from time to time give no indication of any change in the attitude of the British Government.
Will the Minister say if, in view of the fact that recently very prominent people, including Alfred Noyes, have strongly urged that this should now be done, he will consider making very special representations at the present time?
As I said, the instructions of the Ambassador in London are to make representations on any appropriate occasion. In pursuance of these instructions, he has availed of every suitable opportunity to do so.