asked the Taoiseach the plans, if any, he has to rescind the declaration of emergency made under Article 28.3.3º0 of the Constitution in September 1976; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rescinding Declaration of Emergency.
3.
I have no such plans at present.
(Interruptions.)
I am surprised at Deputy Bruton standing over wasting £1.8 million of taxpayers' money and asking me to continue that process.
Mr. Bruton
The board were reconstituted.
The Deputy advocates financial rectitude but he does nothing about it.
I have called the next question. The question has been replied to. I doubt if Deputy Kennedy heard the reply. Did you hear the reply, Deputy?
I did not.
With the greatest of courtesy, I will repeat it: I have no such plans at present.
I think it is ridiculous that, with the exception of a few hours in September 1976, the State has been in a constant state of emergency for 49 years now. Given that no legislation requires the cover of a state of emergency at the moment, I wonder why the Taoiseach is insisting on maintaining this declaration.
(Limerick East): He probably knows more than we do.
In view of recent developments, I do not think any Deputy in the House would suggest that this is an opportune time to rescind that declaration.
Apart from the present moment, I am asking the Taoiseach generally why, when the only piece of legislation introduced since the mid-seventies under the cover of a declaration of emergency — the Emergency Powers Act bringing in seven days detention — has now been allowed to lapse, are we maintaining this on the Statute Book?
We may have to take other measures from time to time. I hope the Deputy would not suggest that everything in the country at the moment is peaceful and that the Garda and the other security services should not have available to them any power they may need to combat crime, particularly subversive crime and particularly to combat such a horrible crime as kidnapping?
I would not for one moment suggest that but the fact is that the Garda, even at present, are not using any powers required under the state of emergency.
The emergency powers have nothing to do with the kidnapping situation as the Taoiseach knows.