§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the fact that a terrorist escaped over the Londonderry- 292W Donegal Border into the Irish Republic on Monday, 26th July after being disturbed by the Army as he was preparing a booby trap, he will now make representations to the Government of the Republic to seek to extend the extradition treaty with the United Kingdom to cover such criminals.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleThere is no extradition treaty between the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic. The Republic's Extradition Act of 1965 broadly provides for extradition of a person for whom a warrant has been issued in this country, if a similar offence exists under the Republic's law. Extradition may however be refused if the court considers that the offence is a political one. Similar provisions exist in our own legislation and in both countries their interpretation is a matter for the courts.