asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he supports the view recently advocated by Cardinal Ó Fiaich that Irish prisoners in English jails should be repatriated to serve the remainder of their sentences in Ireland; if he will outline Government policy in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Prisoners' Repatriation.
5.
Cardinal Ó Fiaich in his statement of 26 April 1984 referred to the demand for ‘some long-term Irish-born prisoners' in Britain to be transferred to serve their sentences in Northern Ireland. The Government have made representations to the British authorities on behalf of such prisoners requesting transfers, when it was judged that there were convincing reasons justifying such requests.
In reply the British Government have indicated their willingness in principle to consider particular requests for which there are compelling humanitarian reasons. I am conscious of the arguments in favour of transfer in certain cases. I am deeply concerned by the hardship experienced by the families of some of these prisoners. I will continue to take up cases which seem to me to be of merit.
Is the Minister aware that all British soldiers convicted of crimes in the North of Ireland have been repatriated to serve their sentences in English prisons? Does the Minister consider that the British Government's refusal in the vast majority of cases to transfer Irish prisoners serving sentences in English jails to prisons in the North of Ireland underlines a vindictiveness on the part of the British Government towards Irish prisoners? Can the Minister indicate if this view has been expressed to the British Government?
There are two aspects to the Deputy's question. The first relates to the question of where British soldiers who are convicted of offences are imprisoned — presumably that is put forward merely as a matter of fact, because that would be a matter for the British authorities. In relation to the second part of the Deputy's question I can say that this area has been discussed on a number of occasions at different levels with the British authorities. Indeed in specific cases the requests for transfer from my Government have received support where there were special reasons justifying such requests.
Does the Minister support the statement of Cardinal Ó Fiaich of 25 April last that the cases of Irish prisoners known as the Birmingham six, the Guildford four and that of Mrs. Annie Maguire, all of whom consistently claim to be innocent, should now be re-opened? Does the Minister support Cardinal Ó Fiaich's statement in this regard?
Here the Deputy is raising specific instances. What I must say is that the Government have made representations to the British authorities on behalf of certain prisoners requesting transfer when it was adjudged that there were convincing reasons justifying such requests. But it would not be appropriate in the interests of those concerned to give details of any of the individual cases which have been raised. It would be entirely in appropriate to do so and indeed not helpful to the cases that have been made on behalf of those individuals.
A final supplementary from Deputy Gregory.
One final supplementary by way of clarification. The Minister may have misunderstood my last question. There are two aspects to Cardinal Ó Fiaich's statement, the first being that Irish prisoners should be repatriated. The second aspect was that in the cases of specific prisoners who claim to be innocent of the crimes of which they were convicted Cardinal Ó Fiaich is very concerned that the cases of 11 in particular should now be re-opened because of the lack of evidence in relation to their convictions——
The Deputy cannot raise——
I am simply asking the Minister if he supports the statement of Cardinal Ó Fiaich?
The Chair is pointing out to Deputy Gregory that that is another question and does not arise under the question on the Order Paper today. The question on the Order Paper deals with the transfer of prisoners from Britain to Ireland to serve their sentences and does not raise any questions about their innocence or otherwise.
My question refers to——
——their repatriation.
Does the Minister support the statement of Cardinal Ó Fiaich in its entirety?
I have not seen the statement in its entirety. I presume the Deputy is referring to the statement which was reported in The Irish Times of 27 April last?
The Minister should remain at home more often.
I would point out that there was a correction published in The Irish Times of 30 April last in relation to part of that statement, so the entire statement is not available to me. On that basis it would not be proper for me——
If I get a copy of Cardinal Ó Fiaich's statement, will the Minister let me know if he supports it?
I would be glad to study it in detail.
The Minister will leave a forwarding address.
That comment is unfair.