asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is prepared, within the context of the Helsinki Final Agreement, to raise directly with the Czechoslovakian Government the position of a person (details supplied) who has been placed in prison as a result of his activities in relation to the Charter 77 Group and the VONS Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

: The Deputy will be aware that the Government's concern at the detention, and subsequent imprisonment of Charter 77 members, contrary to the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act was expressed in two statements issued by the Foreign Ministers of the Nine during the Irish Presidency of the European Community.

Since that time my Department has continued to follow closely the situation with regard to Charter 77 members and others in a similar position in Eastern Europe. Matters such as these will be raised at the forthcoming CSCE Review meeting in Madrid where there will be a thorough review of the implementation by participating states of all the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act.

: Do I gather that the Minister is not prepared to raise this matter directly with the Czechoslovakian Government?

: I shall raise it in my own way when I attend personally as I propose to do in Madrid.

: That is not what Deputy Kelly was referring to, was it?

: I shall be in Madrid during the opening of the conference. The conference is opening at the moment on a procedural basis but there will be a substantive opening of business and I propose to be there.