Conor Cruise O'Brien - Irish Politics

Irish Politics

O'Brien returned to Ireland and in the 1969 general election was elected to Dáil Éireann as a member of the Labour Party, representing the Dublin North–East constituency, together with three other TDs, including Charles Haughey, whose probity in financial matters he questioned. He was appointed a member of the short-lived first delegation from the Oireachtas to the European Parliament. Following the 1973 general election, O'Brien was appointed Minister for Posts and Telegraphs in the coalition Cosgrave government. During this period he developed a deep hostility to militant Irish republicanism. He extended and vigorously enforced censorship of the media, banning members of Sinn Féin and the Provisional Irish Republican Army from being interviewed on Irish radio or television (Section 31). At the same time, he attempted to get Britain's BBC 1 television channel broadcast on Ireland's proposed second television channel.

An incident was to mar O'Brien's career as minister and in particular his attitude towards free speech. Bernard Nossitier of the Washington Post interviewed O'Brien in August 1976 regarding the passage of the Emergency Powers Bill. During the course of the interview O'Brien revealed that he had intentions other than those stated in the bill. He claimed that he wished to "cleanse the culture" of republicanism. He stated that he would've liked the bill to be used against teachers who glorified Irish revolutionaries and against newspaper editors who published letters in support of Republicans. During the interview he mentioned the Irish Press as a newspaper which he hoped to use this bill against. Nossiter then informed Tim Pat Coogan who was the editor of the Irish Press. Coogan printed the interview and a number of strong editorials attacking the bill. The interview caused huge controversy and a highly modified version of the bill was passed, which dropped the proposal to extend sanctions to newspapers.

O'Brien's attitude towards Garda brutality in this period has been remarked upon. In his book, he recalls a conversation with a detective who told him how the Gardaí had found out – from a suspect – the location of businessman Tiede Herrema, who had been kidnapped by the IRA in October 1975: "he escort started asking him questions and when at first he refused to answer, they beat the shit out of him. Then he told them where Herrema was." O'Brien explained, "I refrained from telling this story to Garret or Justin, because I thought it would worry them. It didn’t worry me." The elements of the Garda Síochána that engaged in beating suspects later became known as the "Heavy Gang".

His stance caused controversy within and outside the government. His Dublin North–East constituency was abolished and in the 1977 general election he stood unsuccessfully in Dublin Clontarf. He was, however, subsequently elected to Seanad Éireann (1977 to 1979).