Still. when members of the opposition are restricted from speaking out. as representatives of a democratic legislative body. we must focus attention on the irony of this injustice. I do not object to the visit of Mr. Prior. but rather protest the fact that as an appointed member of the British Government. he is able to travel freely and present events both current and historical from the British point of view. while representatives from opposing parties are denied visas to the United States. and therefore the right to discuss events from another perspective. To quote Father Sean McManus. director of the Irish National Caucus: Civil libertarians would argue that the Reverend Ian Paisley. the personification of antiCatholic bigotry and violence in Northern Ireland. should be permitted entry into the United States to offer his views on the centuries old conflict in the north of Ireland. They would be correct in that assessment. Americas constitutional principles ensure freedom of thought and freedom of speech for all. Any individual with an opinion on the conflict should be granted a visa and given the opportunity to express his views. Yet. the American "openentry" policy to those on both sides of the Northern Ireland question has been inconsistent as the Prior case demonstrates. Granting Mr. Prior a visa while legitimate members of Irish Catholic political movements such as Sinn Fein are excluded. must be questioned. I urge my colleagues to investigate the issue and commit their efforts to resolve the hypocrisy of American visa policy when it concerns those involved in the Northern Ireland conflict.*
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