Dáil debates

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Road Transport Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed)

 

5:00 pm

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

Certain Deputies on the Labour Party benches would have difficulties in getting a licence because of their support of or involvement in the conflict in our country.

I was there when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. The British and Irish Governments both gave commitments that once conditions had stabilised, legislation would be introduced to give an amnesty to anyone who had convictions during the struggle. We took that in good faith and yet people who had convictions that occurred as a result of the Troubles in the Six Counties and were involved in the campaign still find themselves in this position of discrimination. These are people who were sentenced in the Diplock courts in the North and the other non-jury courts in the Twenty-six Counties. Under the special powers Act, those who were convicted received very long sentences and were released under the Good Friday Agreement on the recognition by both Governments that these were special category prisoners.

In July I had the opportunity to go and speak in five cities in Australia. In order to go there, I needed to get a certificate of compliance from the Garda containing all my previous convictions. It effectively meant that I had to get a special visa in order to enter that country as I have had to do up until now in order to enter the United States of America, even though I was going there to promote the peace process and to convince people who had reservations about the whole peace process. There are many others in similar positions. It also means that, for instance, a person who was sentenced as a result of the Troubles and released 20 years ago cannot get a visa to go to the United States, Australia or Canada. They cannot even go for a holiday to those countries because they have had these sentences as a result of the conflict.

The Minister should accept the amendment proposed by Deputy Ellis. If that amendment is accepted, some decent and honourable people would be able to get jobs in road transportation, as taxi drivers or any similar job. Based on their previous conscience, I hope Deputy Durkan and other Members in government parties might be able to support the amendment. I trust the Minister will take this on board.

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