Irish Republican Army

HC Deb 28 July 1955 vol 544 cc1329-30

20. Mr. Hyde

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether, in view of the open recruiting by the Irish Republican Army in Eire for hostile operations against Northern Ireland, he will make a protest and ask the Government of Eire to take more effective steps to suppress this illegal organisation.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to Sir D. Savory, the then hon. Member for Antrim, South, on 11th November, 1954.

Mr. Hyde

Is my hon. Friend aware that this is a very serious matter, particularly for the people of Northern Ireland, who are becoming increasingly alarmed by reason of Press reports on the activities of the I.R.A.?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

We are well aware of the strong feeling in Northern Ireland about this matter. I would refer my hon. Friend to the last paragraph of the reply which I gave on 11th November, when I pointed out that in the debate in the Dail which followed the attack at Omagh both the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic and the Leader of the Opposition condemned this use of violence.