Evelyn Glenholmes (Hansard, 24 March 1986)

§ Mr. Ian Gow (Eastbourne)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No 10, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely,

the failure of the Director of Public Prosecutions to secure the extradition from the Republic of Ireland of Evelyn Glenholmes, suspected of the gravest terrorist offences, despite the Anglo-Irish agreement of 15 November 1985. This matter is clearly specific and relates to events which are within the knowledge of the House, which took place as recently as last Saturday. It is undoubtedly important. You have heard, Mr. Speaker, the deep concern expressed by hon. Members on both sides of the House about the statement made by right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

The matter is also urgent. You will have noticed, Mr. Speaker, that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary did not answer the third question that I put to him this afternoon, and say whether he had satisfied himself that, in the view of the Irish legal authorities, the third warrant sent over this morning to Dublin did conform, and conform in every respect, with the legal requirements of Irish law so that there could be, if Miss Glenholmes should be apprehended, a proper extradition of the kind that was attempted twice on Saturday.

There is a third aspect which I would like to draw to your attention, Mr. Speaker. Our proceedings this afternoon take place four months after the signing of the Anglo-Irish agreement. On 11 March, less than a fortnight ago, there was a meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference at ministerial level. I wish to remind you, Mr. Speaker, of what took place as recorded in the official communiqué: The Conference welcomed the development of contacts between officials concerned with security questions, and the plans for these contacts to continue. Later in that communiqué it states:

The conference heard a report of the meeting held on 13 February to discuss legal matters including the administration of justice. The communiqué also stressed that:

The Conference agreed that at its next meeting it would consider … progress reports from the groups of officials set up under Article 8 of the Agreement to discuss extradition. It is clear that the matters which were the subject of the terrible events in Dublin on Saturday, and which were the subject of my right hon. Friend's statement this afternoon, were also considered at the last meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference.

The House is about to rise for the Easter recess. There is no other opportunity, save through an emergency debate, for us to discuss these matters which are so clearly of importance to the House. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to agree to an emergency debate.