The Irish Republican Socialist Party met with the Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahearn today and demanded that Ireland opposes Turkey's entry into the EEC on the basis of that country's appalling record on Human rights.

The IRSP delegation that went to Leinster House expressed the party's concerns that 23 political prisoners have died on hunger strike since the start of the year, that coupled with the murder of over 20 prisoners during forced prison moves just before Christmas.

Mr. Cathal McGovern of the IRSP Ard Comhairle who led the delegation said following the meeting:

"We put it to Mr. Ahearn in the strongest possible terms that the present situation in Turkey is untenable and that the Turkish political prisoners see Ireland as a last hope of raising the plight of the prisoners given our experience with the trauma of hunger strike. We also put it to the Taoiseach that Irelands much vaunted special relationship with the USA that pressure be brought to bare on the American government who are the Turkish regimes main backers in the world."

In conclusion the IRSP representative said:

"It is imperative that Turkish political prisoners do not continue to be sacrificed at the altar of USA imperialism, this is a case of American and NATO air bases being more important than the lives of Turkish political prisoners."

The IRSP also raised the case of Dessie O Hare, the last remaining prisoner entitled to release under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement who is still incarcerated in Portlaoise prison.

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