Written question asked by Lord Tebbit (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Scotland of Asthal (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 May 2006.

Easter Rising 1916

Question: Whether they regard celebrations of Irish republican violence during Easter 1916 as a glorification of terrorism.

Answer: Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006, which came into force on 13 April 2006, creates an offence of encouragement of terrorism including glorification of the commission or preparation of acts of terrorism. Section 1 contains a number of safeguards relating to this offence. For the offence to be committed, it requires a person who publishes a statement to intend it to be understood as encouraging others to commit terrorist acts or to be reckless as to whether it will be understood in that way; it requires that the statement is likely to be understood by people to whom it is directed as encouragement to them to carry out acts of terrorism; and it requires that what is being glorified is capable of being emulated in current circumstances. Prosecutions are a matter for the police and the prosecuting authorities and much depends on the specific circumstances of each case.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 5714; 682 c40WA
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Anniversaries Incitement Ireland (island) Terrorism Republicanism Encouragement of terrorism
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk