HC Deb 10 December 1974 vol 883 cc234-5
Q3. Mr. Rifkind

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland to co-ordinate British and Irish action against terrorism.

Mr. Edward Short

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend has met Mr. Cosgrave on a number of occasions this year and will, of course, be seeing him at the Heads of Government meeting now taking place in Paris, but at present he has no plans for a further bilateral meeting on this issue. The Government, however, keep in close touch with the Government of the Republic on this and other matters and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and other Ministers met the Minister for Justice, Mr. Cooney, yesterday to discuss ways of dealing with terrorism.

Mr. Rifkind

Is the Leader of the House aware of the approval of both sides of the House at the decision of the Irish Government to seek powers for their own courts to try offenders for terrorist offences which take place in the United Kingdom? Will he inform the House what success the Government have been having in their representations to the Irish Government to extend the scope of these provisions to include major terrorist activities such as hijacking or murder committed within the United Kingdom?

Mr. Short

I cannot say anything about the latter part of the supplementary question, but the Dail has already introduced legislation on this matter and reciprocal legislation will be introduced in this House before Christmas.

Mr. Bidwell

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the policy of internment in Northern Ireland, started by the Conservative Government, apparently with the acquiescence of the then Opposition, has been an unmitigated disaster since it provides a breeding ground for terrorists? Does he not agree that the sooner we have a Bill of Rights for the people of Northern Ireland, the better we shall be able to break the polarisation caused by that policy and its disastrous consequences?

Mr. Short

There are different views on many of these matters. We have a great many debates on Irish matters on orders coming up before Parliament, and the sort of matter my hon. Friend mentions can be discussed on those occasions.