§ 28. Mr. McMasterasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to prepare legislation to make it an offence either to belong to the Irish Republican Army while resident in, or on a temporary visit to, Great Britan or for anyone in Great Britain to take any active steps to encourage or further the aims of the Irish Republican Army either directly or indirectly; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaudlingSuch legislation would involve considerable difficulties of definition and enforcement. I do not think it would be justified in present circumstances and I do not have any step of this kind in contemplation at the present time.
§ Mr. McMasterIs my right hon. Friend aware that members of the IRA have boasted publicly on BBC television that they are responsible for the deaths of up to 400 civilians in the United Kingdom in the last four years? Is he further aware that the television programme "Panorama" interviewed a leading member of the Provisional IRA, a man called David O'Connell, earlier this week on television? What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to ensure that those responsible for this interview and for paying fees to a member of the Provisional IRA who murdered a staff sergeant in my constituency at three minutes to 12 on Sunday night are brought to justice in a proper manner in this country?
§ Mr. MaudlingMy hon. Friend will know what I have said in the past when I was responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. I yield to no one in my hatred of the wicked activities of the terrorists in Northern Ireland. But to implement my hon. Friend's proposal for legislation would be difficult. It would be extraordinarily difficult to define the organisations involved for proscribing and even more difficult to prove membership of such an organisation.
§ Mr. McMasterIn view of the totally unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.