§ Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from Protestant leaders in Northern Ireland about the effect on future co-operation in achieving effective locally constituted government in the Province of his decision to allow three members of the Dublin Parliament to visit the Maze prison; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsI have received no representations of the kind described by my hon. Friend, althought the leaders of both the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist Party have made clear their disagreement with the decision to allow the visit. No indication has been given to me that this difference of view will affect the desire of the parties to find an acceptable basis on which powers can be transferred to locally-elected representatives in Northern Ireland.
§ Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what explanation of the purpose of their proposed visit to the Maze prison was given to him by the three Members of the Dublin Parliament; and whether he sought any assurances from them about the nature of any public statements they would subsequently make about the visit, before allowing it to take place.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsI was not in touch with the three Members of the Dublin Parliament at any time. It follows that no explanation of the purpose of the visit was given to me, nor did I ask for one; nor did I seek any assurances of the kind mentioned.
§ Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whom he consulted before he gave permission for three Members of the Dublin Parliament to visit the Maze prison; and, in particular, whether he had any discussions with (a) the Irish Prime Minister, his officials, any Members of the Dublin Parliament or their representatives and (b) any priest or official of the Roman Catholic Church.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThe decision whether to allow the visit was a matter for the Government alone, and there was no consultation with any of the persons mentioned in the question.
§ Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors led him to decide to allow three Members of the Dublin Parliament to visit the Maze prison.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThe prisoner had himself asked to see the three Members of the Dublin Parliament, and in all the circumstances—in particular the prisoner's condition after seven weeks of refusing food and the possibility that he might be persuaded to give up his hunger strike—I thought it right to allow the visit to take place.
§ Dr. Mawhinneyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland on the role played by the Royal Ulster Constabulary during the visit of the three Member's of the Dublin Parliament to the Maze prison; and what was the cost of the operations.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsI see no reason to call for such a report. The chief constable alone is responsible for the 463W deployment of the police. As security for the visit was provided by police officers in the normal course of their duties, no additional expense was incurred.