asked the President if he will state (1) if reports have been received by him or if he has, otherwise, reason to believe that the landing of arms on the coast of the Saorstát, or their transfer across the land frontier, has been successfully attempted or is likely to be attempted; (2) if instructions (whether of a special or general nature) regarding attempts to bring arms into the Saorstát have been given by him direct, or through the Ministers more particularly concerned, either to the Gárda or the Army; (3) if any steps have been taken to prevent arms destined for associations in this country acting without the authority of the State leaving foreign countries, or to effect their seizure before being landed here; and (4) if any requests for collaboration in the matter of prevention or seizure have been made to any other Government, or if any offer of collaboration has been made by any other Government and, if so, how such requests and offers have been received.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Illegal Importation of Arms.
No information has reached me that any landing of arms on the coast of the Saorstát or any transfer of arms across the land frontier has taken place or been attempted. In fact, the reports received by the Government are to the effect that there has been no such landing or transfer. With regard to parts (2), (3) and (4) of the question, I can only state that, in view of representations received, the Government has taken all the precautions that would be warranted if those representations were well founded.
I notice that the answer to the first part of the question is "No report has reached me that any landing of arms on the coast of the Saorstát or any transfer of arms across the land frontier has been attempted."
Or taken place.
The question also referred to likely attempts.
I know of no likely attempts.
But apparently reports have been received. The President has so stated. Will the President indicate what was the nature of these reports and did they refer to attempts that were likely to be made at a particular time?
The reports I received were reports received in consequence of certain representations made, reports received from our forces.
I have asked further if instructions, whether of a special or general nature, regarding attempts to bring arms into the Saorstát have been given by the President directly or indirectly? The answer given to me has been of a general type, to the effect that all the precautions warranted have been taken?
Yes.
Am I to assume that this includes the provision of co-ercion by force of the people found attempting to bring arms into the country?
The Deputy can conclude from what I have stated that all the precautions which it was our duty, as a Government, to take, have been taken.
In accordance with the law?
Yes.
That is to say co-ercion will be used against such persons?
All the precautions necessary have been taken.
Arising out of the answer, I want to ask the President whether, in fact, reports have come in that a coal boat unloading at Ross-carbery Pier was suspected of having arms and that it was searched for arms. Were there instructions issued by the President's Department to the Gardá to search that boat?
The Gárda, in that case and in other cases, took general precautionary measures.
Reports were coming in to the President's Department that arms would be landed?
Surely in a serious matter of the type of landing of arms, whether it be merely a case of reports or not, I ask the President whether, in order to allay the public anxiety on this matter, we should be told in fact that the President does know that boats were searched at his request and on his authority, as representing the Government?
I did not say there is any public anxiety. I have stated that the Government have taken all the precautions that were deemed essential to meet that or any cases that might arise if the reports were well-founded.
Why was it necessary to have this coal-boat at Ross-carbery Pier searched a fortnight ago?
I think that question has been answered already.
The last part of my question, item (4), refers to "any requests for collaboration in the matters of prevention or seizure made to any other Government or if any offer of collaboration has been made by any other Government and how such requests and offers have been received." I would like a precise answer on these points?
I have told the Deputy all that I propose to tell him about the matter. Anything further that I would say would be a repetition of the statement that all the precautions necessary have been taken.
I intend to raise this matter on the adjournment.