Vol. 401 No. 5
50 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason the Irish Government delegation, when requested, refused to assist the non-Governmental Organisations on the Birmingham Six to raise the case with other governmental delegations at the CSCE Conference in Copenhagen.
51 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Irish delegation to the CSCE Human Rights Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, refused to assist the group presenting the case of the Birmingham Six at the NGO/Parallel Activities of the CSCE; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Question Nos. 50 and 51 together.
The Government's view is that the most effective way at present for them to work for a satisfactory conclusion of the Birmingham Six case is to pursue the matter directly with the British Government. The Government have repeatedly and forcefully conveyed their views and their deep concern about the case to the British authorities.
I informed the House a number of times in advance that it was not the Government's intention to raise the issue at the Copenhagen CSCE Conference on the Human Dimension. However, during the Conference in Copenhagen the Irish delegation met the Non-Governmental Organisation representing the Birmingham Six and facilitated them in every way possible. When asked by the NGO concerned for assistance in raising the case at the Conference, the delegation referred to the decision taken by the Government not to raise the issue there.
