asked the Minister for External Affairs, having regard to the extent of public indignation at the action of a British Naval Party forcibly boarding and searching an Irish vessel in Carlingford Lough, whether a protest has been made to Britain and what action will be taken to prevent like incidents in future.
Private Notice Questions: - Boarding of Ship.
asked the Minister for External Affairs (a) if he has received an apology from the British Government for the conduct of the crew of the minesweeper, Kellington, who forcibly boarded an Irish-owned ship, the Owenroe, flying the Tricolour in Irish territorial waters and heading for an Irish port on 8th November; (b) if he has not received an apology, if he intends to demand one; (c) if he intends to seek an assurance from the British Government that such an event will not happen in future; and (d) if he will make a full statement on the matter.
The Government have made known to the British authorities the serious view they take of this incident and the matter is being pursued.
Would the Taoiseach indicate in what manner is the matter being pursued? (1) Is it by way of diplomatic protest; (2) has any apology yet been received from the British authorities and (3) will there be any naval or military deployment on our part to ensure that the sovereignty of Irish vessels is not interfered with again in such a provocative way in Irish territorial waters?
I shall take the three parts of the supplementary question in order. The newspapers carried today the manner in which the views of our Government were conveyed, that is, by the Department of External Affairs through the Secretary summoning the British Ambassador to the Department yesterday and making known the views of the Government. Secondly, there has not been an apology yet and, as far as any other type of action is to be taken, that has not been decided.
Is the Taoiseach in a position to say what specifically the Secretary of the Department of External Affairs said to the British Ambassador when he conveyed the views of the Government?
If I could say what he specifically said?
The Taoiseach said that the Secretary of the Department of External Affairs made known to the British Ambassador the views of the Government.
Yes.
We still have not heard what the details are as far as the views of the Government are concerned. What in fact did he say to him?
I cannot give every detail about what he said. He told the British Ambassador that we took a very serious view of it and that this was a kind of action that we did not expect would be taken in respect of an Irish vessel carrying the Irish flag and making for an Irish port and that it was a kind of action that we did not want to see repeated ever again— along those lines.
The Taoiseach referred to reports in today's newspapers. Has he seen a report in the Irish Independent of November 9th, in which a spokesman for the British Navy was reported. I quote:
He added that there might be further searches of cargo shipping and said there might have been other searches.
Arising from that, can the Taoiseach state whether in fact there have been any other searches prior to this and if, in fact, he has received an assurance from the British Government that there will be no further searches of Irish vessels carrying the Irish flag?
As far as I know there has not been a search of this nature in respect of any other Irish ship. I do believe, however, that British personnel have searched ships of other nationalities in relation to their vigilance of the importation of arms into the North of Ireland. We have not yet heard from the British Government in reply to what the Secretary of the Department of External Affairs said yesterday to the Ambassador.
Surely it should be insisted also to the British Government, through the Ambassador, that this State, this Government, have their own means of discovering whether or not there is contraband, illegal arms or anything, being imported into at least the major, if not all, the ports of this country?
That was conveyed to the Ambassador yesterday. I omitted to mention that to the Deputy.
Can the Taoiseach say if any indication was given before the ship left port which would suggest that it was proposed to search it either in the port or afterwards?
There was no indication and I think it is only fair to say, in so far as the owners are concerned, there was no question whatever of a tip off or anything. As far as I know there was no reason to anticipate that there would be arms on board that ship.
Was the ship within Irish territorial waters when the British stopped it?
That is a matter we are pursuing in the light of a communication that we received today from the owners of the vessel.
Will the Taoiseach or the Minister for External Affairs make a statement to the House when the British Ambassador on behalf of the British Government replies?
I will ask the Minister to do that when he is back next week.