Written answers
Thursday, 28 March 2013
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Northern Ireland Issues
Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his recent initiatives with both the British and Northern Ireland authorities to end the imprisonment without trial of a number of persons in Northern Ireland, particularly Marian Price and Martin Corry. [15625/13]
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps he has taken to address the on-going detainment and conditions of confinement of Martin Corry and Marian Price; and if he has raised concerns with the British Government over the revoking of licences based on unseen, unheard and incontestable intelligence reports. [15538/13]
Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 25 together.
I am very aware of the cases to which the Deputies refer and my officials monitor these and other cases very closely.
The first individual referred to has been detained since 13 May 2011, following the revocation of her life licence by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Genuine concerns have repeatedly been raised about several aspects of this case by deputies, and I have raised these very frankly with the British Government. The Parole Commissioners are currently reviewing her case and their decision will issue in due course.
In relation to the second individual, the British authorities have confirmed that he was released under licence in 1992. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland revoked that licence in April 2010 and the individual has as a result been in custody for the past 2 years and 11 months. An appeal in relation to this case has been submitted to the Supreme Court in Belfast. As the case is the subject of an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
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