asked the Taoiseach if he will state, with reference to his statement on 25th July last outlining the reasons for bringing into operation detention and internment without trial, whether any threat of war was made against this country, and, if so, if he will further state (a) the name of the country by which the threat was made, (b) the nature and terms of the threat, and (c) the action taken by the Government in reply.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Threat of War.
Donnchadh Ó Briain (thar cheann an Taoisigh)
Nothing in the statement which I issued on the 25th July last implied that any threat of war had been made against this country by any other country, and in fact no such threat was made. The remaining parts of the Deputy's question do not, therefore, arise.
We can take it now, as a result of that reply, that there was no threat of war by any other nation and that, therefore, when the Taoiseach made this statement that the possibility of embroilment in war with another country was one of the reasons why he saw fit to bring in Part II of the Offences Against the State Act, there was, in fact, no foundation for that alleged threat of war against this country, according to him.
One can use one's common sense. If attacks are taking place, or if one is attacking somebody else, there is always the danger of retaliation of one kind or another and, therefore, of embroilment. May I ask, in order that it may be word perfect, the Parliamentary Secretary to read out for the House exactly what I said?
The Taoiseach said that the activities of certain groups "had already led to loss of life and were likely, if continued, to embroil our people not only in war with another country but in a hateful civil war as well".