Vol. 402 No. 5
53 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the protests which were made to the Soviet authorities over the recent detention by the KGB of Irish citizens who participated in the M. V. Greenpeace protest against nuclear testing at Novaya Zemlya; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department learned of the detention of the three Irish citizens in question on the day on which they were detained, along with other crew members of the vessel in question, by Soviet border guards. The Embassy at Moscow was immediately notified and they in turn contacted the Soviet authorities who confirmed the arrests and outlined the charges. Arrangements were in hand for a consular visit by a member of the Embassy staff when the crew including the three Irish citizens were released on 12 October and allowed to depart the Soviet Union.
No protest was lodged with the Soviet authorities.
