asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of protests which have been lodged at Irish Embassies abroad, and particularly in the United Kingdom at racist material which originates in this country; how they have replied to these protests; if his attention has been drawn to the reply given to Deputy Briscoe's parliamentary question of 3 December to the Taoiseach stating that there is no need for a Race Relations Act in this country and that there is adequate protection under the constitution for all minorities; if he has brought these protests to the attention of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Racist Literature.
32.
The embassy in London did receive a number of approaches in the matter, mainly during 1981. It is the position of the Government, who are of course kept informed of developments in this area as appropriate, that they abhor the circulation of such material and that the situation in this regard is kept under review by the Garda authorities with a view to referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions where the circumstances so warrant.
The question of whether race relations legislation would be required in the context of the ratifiction of certain international human rights instruments to which we are signatories is under active consideration by the Departments concerned. I can assure the Deputy that the question of the use of this country as a base for the distribution of racist literature has been considered in this context.
The parliamentary question to the Taoiseach, to which the Deputy refers, was concerned with the relevance of race relations legislation to the maintenance of religious freedom and it was to this aspect that the Taoiseach's reply was addressed.