Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their presentation. Mr. O'Connor has made a very good point, that if people do not believe they are getting justice in their communities, they might move towards paramilitaries. For me, the issues of the right to a fair trial and a bill of rights were brought into sharp focus last week when I went with an all-party Dáil delegation to meet a group of people. In Northern Ireland one can be put in prison without being told why and without any hope of a trial. I was shocked to learn this because I had thought it was a thing of the past. I ask the delegates to excuse my naivete. My understanding is that one may be allowed to see a solicitor - not of one's own choosing - for approximately an hour or so and that when one's trial comes up, one gets to see the solicitor again. I had to be told this several times because it was very difficult to get it into my head, coming from a civilised state, that such a thing could take place. Whatever someone is accused of, at the end of the day we need consistency in human rights, as otherwise it is inevitable that we will see problems. How aware is the ICTU of this issue? I was not aware of it. If the ICTU is aware of it, what do the delegates think of it and what can be done about it?