Brendan McGahon
Ceist:27 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Justice if she will introduce legislation preventing the media from accepting statements from the IRA as being issued from Dublin or other parts of the 26 Counties.
Written Answers. - Terrorist Propaganda.
The issuing of such statements is a long-standing irritant to the law-abiding citizens of this State. They are usually telephoned to the media and, of course, the telephone call may be made from any location — including from outside this jurisdiction. However, in the present era of instant world-wide communications it would be unrealistic for this State to seek to prevent, whether under existing or amending legislation, the reporting by the media generally of statements emanating from illegal organisations whether they purport to issue from Dublin or elsewhere. What successive Governments have done and what this Government will continue to do is to use every opportunity at international level to make people more aware of our absolute opposition to the use of violence for political ends and of our commitment to using all the resources available to us to bring such violence to an end. In my view this is the best way to counter this propaganda of the terrorists.