Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his succinct answer. Certain issues are within the control of the political system in Northern Ireland. One is the closed and unjust system under which a licence is revoked and one does not know the charges one faces and is not present for the inquiry.

A second issue is administrative delay. The Tánaiste was correct when he stated the hearing was expected to take place in the coming weeks, with which we were willing to go along. As he is aware, there should be no fear of releasing this man. The Tánaiste has recognised that Mr. Taylor has stated he will not be involved in sectarian activities. We also have the statement from the organisation to which he belonged. This is not building peace, rather it is doing the opposite.

I have written countless times on behalf of a group of Deputies to the former Secretary of State, Ms Theresa Villiers, and the current Secretary of State, Ms Karen Bradley, on the case and requested a meeting with the latter for four Deputies in this House. Will the Tánaiste convey to her our disgust that a Secretary of State does not see fit to meet representatives of the Oireachtas in reasonable time when they request a meeting to discuss a serious matter. I hope that if British MPs wished to meet the Tánaiste, he would immediately give them that courtesy. I have no doubt that he would.

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