asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that on Saturday, March 30th, while a meeting to consider proposals for terminating the dispute concerning the Dublin tramways was being held in the premises of the Dublin Trades Union Council a number of detectives entered the hall on several occasions and carried out a search of the building; whether he can state by what authority and for what purpose this search was ordered and carried out.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Search of Dublin T.U.C. Hall.
Police visited the Labour Hall at 44 Lower Gardiner Street on the date mentioned, in search of two men believed to be on the premises. The Hall was revisited on three occasions later in the day in consequence of further information that the wanted men were there. I am informed that the police apologised at the time for the inconvenience occasioned and I, myself, regret the interruption of the strike committee's deliberations.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is he aware of the fact that these police officers visited the premises four times on Saturday last without any previous intimation of their intention to make the visits to the secretary, and without any indication when they arrived that they proposed to search? Is the Minister satisfied that these visits were justified and that the information he received is not bogus, and does he still consider these visits to a trade union premises justified during a time when the representatives of the trade unions were discussing proposals of the Minister for Industry and Commerce in connection with the strike?
It is a fact that the police did visit the premises, as I have stated in the reply, on the number of times mentioned. Whether the information is bogus or not, it is information that was received by the police and they believed they were justified in ascertaining if those men whom they wished to interview were in these premises, which are open all day. I am not suggesting that the men whom the police wished to interview were people who were on the strike committee, or were there at all for the purpose of trade union business.
They should meet at 44 Parnell Square in future.
Is the Minister aware that no search warrants were produced by the police and that although the secretary was on the premises they proceeded to make a search without intimating to him that they proposed to do so? Is the Minister now satisfied that those persons were not on the premises?
I am satisfied they were not there when the police called.