andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will disclose the contents of the Note handed to the Government after the recent Border incidents and the reply thereto.
36.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Note on Border Incidents: Presence of British Units in Six Counties.
35.
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for External Affairs whether in their recent reply to the British Government's Note the Government drew the attention of the British Government to the provocative and irritant effect on the people of this country of the continued presence of units of the British Army on Irish territory.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.
The British Ambassador called on me on 14th November to express the concern of his Government about the ambush at Jonesboro', Co. Armagh on 12th November.
Communications of this kind between Governments are confidential.
Do I take it the Taoiseach replied to Question No. 36 as well? With respect, may I suggest that he gave no reply to that Question, that he must be making a mistake. Question No. 36 asked the Taoiseach whether he drew the attention of the British Government to the provocative and irritant effect on the people of this country of the continued presence of units of the British Army on Irish territory. Did the Taoiseach point out that fact to the British Ambassador when this strong reprimand was issued to the Taoiseach by the representative of the British Government?
As I informed the Deputy, all these communications must be treated as confidential.
May I ask the Taoiseach did he at any time in recent years point out to the British Government the reaction on the people of the fact that these British troops are stationed in the North? Has he done so on any of the occasions he has received notes of protest from the British Government? There is no answer. It is quite apparent he has never pointed out——