asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to the appropriate States to secure the release of the war prisoner Rudolph Hess on humanitarian grounds.

15.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether representations have been made to any Government to secure the release of the war prisoner Rudolph Hess.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. It remains my view that there is nothing which I could usefully do to assist in this case.

Is the Minister aware that the Americans, the French and the English are all agreed on releasing this man from prison and that the only people who do not agree are the Minister's new-found friends, with whom I think he is negotiating at present in regard to the opening of a Russian Embassy here? Why would the Minister not put this question to them on humanitarian grounds? This man is in prison for over 30 years, I think.

As the Deputy says the other countries involved would wish this man to be freed, but given the present attitude of the USSR I am convinced that any representations I might make on this matter would be totally without effect because representations by other countries with closer relations with the USSR have been without effect.

The Minister does not think that his Irish smile, his blarney or his red tie would get them to change their minds?

It is you people who have been saying nice things about them for some time.

No, it is you. You are courting them at the present time.

(Cavan): Does the Minister not think that the attitude of the Soviet Union in insisting on keeping this unfortunate man confined for the rest of his life represents a barbaric attitude and, if there was no other reason for refusing to have diplomatic relations with this country, does the Minister not think this represents a good reason?

Does anybody suggest that we would do any good? What about the people in Belfast who are in prison? Should we not spend more time on them?

For the Minister's information I can tell him that we have a man in Limerick, Seán Bourke, and I am sure——

That has nothing to do with this question.

(Cavan): Is the Minister going to do anything about it?

I think Fine Gael are trying to lay an egg. Would they come out and say they do not want diplomatic relations with Russia and stop giving different little reasons which they are finding for it. They are getting mixed up in their thinking. We have to show some disagreement or people will think we are in agreement on everything.

(Cavan): I really feel very strongly about this. Does the Minister not think that the continued detention of a human being, irrespective of his name or nationality, in circumstances in which this man has been detained is a reflection on humanity in general?

It is; it is wrong, and representations have been made repeatedly by countries with diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union. But, having said that, I do not think that what the Deputy goes on to say would have any influence on the USSR.

(Cavan): The matter should not be treated as a joke.

I am not treating it as a joke. The Deputy should try to straighten his thinking.

With all the fuss there is, possibly justifiably, about this man who has been imprisoned for so long, our republican prisoners in all prisons might get our first consideration in that we could do more about them.

Hear, hear.

Would the Minister make some representations in any case?

I think it would be quite useless. Governments which I am sure have much more powerful influence with the Soviet Union than we have have been refused in this respect.

It will not do any harm and might do some good.