asked the Minister for Defence if he has received any report of the presence on the Waterford coast of British military and naval personnel and if he will state whether any steps have been taken to ascertain the reason for their presence there; and if he will state if prior permission was obtained from his Department for this visit; and, if so, under what circumstances such facilities were accorded to representatives of the armed forces occupying portion of our country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Military and Naval Personnel.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question by Deputy Cowan on the 1st December, 1948, regarding the assistance being rendered to the Defence Forces by British personnel in making a general and photographic survey of coastal areas. This survey is at present being made of portion of the Waterford coast.
Accepting the position as set out by the Minister in his reply, will the Minister tell the Dáil his view as to the possibilities of our attitude being misconstrued in foreign countries as indicative of a lack of real resentment towards the wrongful presence of British forces in part of our Northern province and will the Minister agree that such occupation constitutes a hostile act against this nation and that our attitude is open to misconstruction? Will the Minister further tell the House if there was any necessity for the secrecy that surrounded the granting of these facilities?
It is difficult to keep all these supplementaries in my head at the same time. Consequently, I shall answer by beginning at the end. I am not aware that there has been any secrecy in connection with these operations. The machines used are nearly as big as this building. They have been transported openly and in daylight from one end of the country to the other.
I agree with the Deputy that, no matter what our attitude is, it will be misinterpreted in certain foreign countries.
I also agree that the occupation of a portion of our country by another power at least is not friendly.
That is nice.
That is mild.