Vol. 359 No. 4
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the activities of a group calling itself the National Socialist Irish Workers' Party which has been distributing literature advocating racial and religious hatred; if he is aware that this group has also been using Dublin as a base to distribute racist literature to other countries thereby avoiding other countries' race relations laws; if it is planned to take any action against this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
29.
asked the Minister for Justice in view of the activities of the National Socialist Irish Workers' Party and other racist groups if he will take steps to introduce race relations legislation as a matter of urgency so as to prevent such groups from inciting racial and religious hatred and from publishing racist literature to be distributed both in Ireland and other parts in Europe.
(Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together. I am informed by the Garda authorities that investigations are being conducted at present into allegations that racialist and anti-semitic literature is being produced in this country for distribution here and for transmission outside the State. On completion of these investigations a report will be submitted for the direction of the DPP if the circumstances so warrant.
I am aware that racialist and anti-semitic material, purporting to be printed and published in Ireland, has surfaced in Britain from time to time in recent years. However, the fact that printed material designates that it was "made in Ireland" is, of course, not proof that such is the case and it is believed that a racialist "comic-type" magazine purporting to be printed and published in Dublin was, in fact, produced abroad. The Garda are satisfied that the magazine was not produced here.
While some preliminary consideration has been given to the question of what legislation might be necessary in this area to give effect to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, it has not been possible to make progress because of the pressure of other urgent legislation. All possible attention will, however, be given to the matter.
I do not think the Minister clearly understood the matter. The position seems to be that the premises in Dublin at 69 Eugene Street are the headquarters of the National Socialist Irish Workers' Party, Nazi group, and are used as a distribution centre. I do not believe it was suggested that the publications were necessarily printed or published here. They are distributed from here because they cannot be distributed in Britain as a result of the race relations laws. We have no similar legislation here and they can freely distribute this type of literature. It is the distribution of literature of this type which has slogans such as "Jews Out of Ireland", "My Struggle", "Niggers Back to Africa", "The Holocaust", "Six Million Lives", "Hitler was Right" and so forth. What steps can the Minister take to ensure that literature of this type is not distributed in Ireland or from Ireland to other countries abroad?
(Limerick East): It might be of interest to Deputies to know that the Garda authorities submitted their report that there were three foreign nationals, two West Germans and a citizen of the UK living here, who were known to have been involved with the NSIWP and who have left the country. Instructions have been issued that the two West Germans should be refused reentry.
Is the Minister aware that literature under the name of this group has been received by members of the Jewish community in Ireland and has also been received by some black students in Ireland from other countries and that the Garda are of the belief that due to the absence of legislation no proper prosecution can be brought against those distributing or printing such literature or against those who create fear or distress by leaving such literature in places frequented by minority groups in this country? In the light of the concern that the activities of the National Socialist Irish Workers' Party has given rise to, would the Minister agree that, as a matter of urgency, we should have race relations legislation brought into force so that distribution of such literature is made a criminal offence and so that the Garda will have a role in preventing such literature being distributed or printed in Ireland?
(Limerick East): I am not aware that the Garda are of the opinion attributed to them by the Deputy. They are continuing their investigations and on completion of these a report will be submitted for the direction of the DPP if the circumstances so warrant. On the question of legislation preliminary consideration has been given to what legislation might be necessary. All possible attention will be given to the matter as soon as I have cleared some other priority legislation which is well in hand. Since the Garda submitted their report and had their initial investigation three nonnationals believed to have been involved have left the country. In the case of two West Germans an instruction has been issued that they are to be refused reentry. I hope the type of practice the Deputy has drawn our attention to will be discontinued.
Is the Minister aware that literature with the Eugene Street address on it has been distributed in London and other parts of England? Can he indicate if any representations have been made to this country by the British Government by way of requesting that we take action to ensure that this country is not used as a distribution base for such literature?
(Limerick East): I am not aware that such literature was distributed in London. It was not brought to my attention and I am not aware that any representations have been made to any other Minister. In so far as the facts available to me portray events Irish nationals were not involved in organising the distribution of the literature. It was a UK national and two West Germans.
It has been brought to my attention from my sources that the person who owns the property in Eugene Street is directly involved in this group and is not merely the owner of the property but one of the principal Irish people involved in the group. In the light of that it is urgent that steps be taken because under existing legislation the Garda cannot prevent this person from printing or distributing literature of this nature.
(Limerick East): I will consider the points made by the Deputy and Deputy Mac Giolla. In the case of one anti-semitic comic magazine called Stormer the information available to me is that even though there was an indication that it was printed in Ireland it was printed in Spain.
This is the final supplementary question on this matter.
I hope the Minister is not assuming that because the foreign nationals have left the country this activity will cease. It is mainly based here. Does the Minister intend, particularly as a result of these activities, to ratify the United Nations convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination? I understand this country and Turkey are the only European countries which have not ratified it.
(Limerick East): As I have said, preliminary consideration has been given to the form of legislation which would be appropriate. If legislation is enacted it will then be possible to ratify the convention.
