Vol. 222 No. 4
asked the Minister for External Affairs if any official protest was made by the Irish Government to the British Government regarding British troop manoeuvres along the Border around the Easter period; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
11.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if any official protest was made by the Irish Government to the British Government regarding the incursion of British regular army units into the Clones area, County Monaghan, on two occasions over Easter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
12.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if any official protest was made by the Irish Government to the British Government regarding the virtual sealing of the Border on 17th April.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 11 and 12 together.
I am glad to say that the various ceremonies in the North commemorating Easter Week passed off well and that no one from any part of the country was prevented from participating in them.
The British Embassy has expressed its regret for the crossing of the Border at Clones by British security forces and gave assurances that every precaution would be taken to prevent a recurrence. In the circumstances it was not felt necessary to make a formal protest.
Was no protest contemplated prior to receiving this expression of regret?
There were all kinds of rumours. We got their expression of regret very quickly and we accepted it.
You are all the same now. I have not got the answer to Question No. 12.
I have answered it. There was nobody stopped from going to Belfast who wanted to go there.
Public transport was prohibited from crossing the Border.
The Deputy used the phrase "sealed off". There was no sealing off.
Was the CIE train prohibited from crossing the Border?
The Deputy used the expression "sealed off". Anybody who wanted to go to Belfast or to any part of Ireland was free to go.
Could they go by train on the 17th?
They could have gone on the Saturday.
This barrage across the floor of the House is unveemly and should not be continued.
The Minister is so long out of the country that he is out of touch.
I wish we could tie yourself and Paisley together.
Would the Minister now make any comment on the fact that the CIE train was stopped on a particular day and the occupants told they could go no further?
Can you still spell the word "Republican"?
That is a fact. I think that if there was a train coming from Belfast carrying some people who might not get a very good reception in this part of the country, I would prefer that they would come by car and not in a train. That is the only comment I am going to make.
In view of the reference to a well-known Northern Ireland clergyman——
He is not a clergyman.
——would the Minister state what member or members of this House he identifies with the Rev. Ian Paisley?
The people who are trying to denigrate the success of the commemoration of Easter Week.
There are very few——
They are trying to belittle it.
The Minister referred to some people who might travel from the North and might not get a good reception here. Who, in fact, is he referring to?
I am not referring to anybody specifically.
The Minister must be talking through his hat.
These supplementary questions have travelled beyond the scope of the original questions. I will allow Deputy Corish to ask a further question.
Do I take it from the Minister's remarks that he approved of the action of the Six Counties in stopping the train?
I was not asked to approve or disapprove.
What does the Minister say now?
Any sensible man can make up his own mind on that.
So the Minister approved.
