asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether any representations have been made to the US Government concerning the transmission of weapons, explosives or funds from that country to IRA groups in Ireland; and what action, if any, is being taken by the US Government to control activities of this kind directed towards assisting illegal organisations in this country which threaten democratic institutions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US Aid to IRA.
6.
We have no grounds for making such representations.
Would the Minister consider writing personally to all Irish-American organisations and individual American sympathisers pointing out that such funds being collected by IRA agents are most likely to be used for illegal purposes both North and South? Would he not make this abundantly clear as Foreign Minister?
I did not quite catch if the Deputy named the organisations.
I am asking the Minister if he would write personally——
The Deputy did not name the organisations.
Money is being collected and given by them to IRA agents——
Clearly labelled as such?
Members of the Provisional IRA and the Official IRA are going to America and specifically stating they are looking for money for guns and to be used in, for example, the production of bombs, and so on. The Minister should make the Government's view quite clear on this.
I understand the State authorities in the US will grant a licence to organisations to collect funds only if they are satisfied of the bona fides of the groups concerned. If the Deputy knows of any groups or organisations whom he wants me to warn, I should like him to name them.
Surely the Minister will accept he has responsibility in this matter rather than leaving it to those who are not in Government.
I am quite clear I would take any action for which I am responsible, but the Deputy is asking me to take action against groups whom he has not named.
Would the Minister say if his Department have given any guidance to organisations in America which describe themselves as friendly to Ireland regarding what they should contribute to and what they should not contribute to, and the kind of activities that are useful? Some of the organisations describing themselves as friendly to Ireland are engaged in activities such as picketing Aer Lingus, which is nationally destructive.
I think the Deputy knows that certain organisations in America would not be responsive to anything the Government here would say to them. However, as far as they can, my officers in the United States recommend organisations which can be depended upon from the point of view of this country. What Deputy Desmond wanted was to warn against certain organisations collecting funds. The state authorities in each state examine the bona fides of the collectors and if they clear them I would want to have a clear name of an organisation which could not be trusted before taking action. Certainly, the officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs advise Irish-Americans and Americans regarding the organisations they should contact.
Would the Minister state which organisations are recommended by his Department as being suitable?
That is a separate question. The question relates to the United States Government only and organisations are not mentioned.
I will get the name of the organisation afterwards. I met the members of the committee. I want to be sure about the name because there is another organisation which has almost exactly the same name.
The Minister has stated that his Department recommend certain organisations as being suitable objects for contributions—I wonder if they include the Fianna Fáil Party?—but what I asked the Minister was: Which are the organisations that are recommended as suitable? Can the Minister tell us that?
I have in my mind a committee I met——
The American Committee on Ulster Justice——
——which has prominent members. There is another group with a similar name and I want to make quite sure that I have the name correct before I mention it in this House.
I appreciate that.
I am calling Question No. 7.