Vol. 403 No. 4
103 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department has been in contact with the British Ministry of Defence with regard to Irish citizens who served in the British armed forces during the second world war who were prisoners of war in Nazi concentration camps and were forced to work for a company (details supplied), to ascertain if compensation payments can now be made since the signing of the Four plus Two agreement earlier this year.
I understand the Four plus Two Agreement which was signed on 12 September 1990 makes no reference to the question of compensation.
The question of seeking compensation for former prisoners of war who were members of the British armed forces is a matter in the first instance for the British authorities. If any Irish citizen who was forced to work for the company named by the Deputy believes that they have a claim for compensation, they should pursue the matter with the British authorities. In the event of difficulty, my Department will be prepared to take up the question with the appropriate authorities.
