Vol. 263 No. 10
asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the increasing dangers to persons and property in areas adjacent to the Border and in County Donegal as a result of the troubles in Northern Ireland, he will detail the steps the Government proposes taking to provide security at an adequate level in terms of Garda personnel.
120.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of a claim made by the UDA to the effect that they were responsible for recent cross-Border operations that might be deemed prejudicial to the security of the State; and what steps the Government are taking to prevent these incursions.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together.
I am aware of reports of UDA claims that they were responsible for a number of recent cross-Border operations. The fact that it is reported that the UDA claim responsibility for a particular incident does not necessarily mean that this is true.
Two of the reported claims call for particular comment. One of these related to an alleged incursion in County Monaghan on 6th October, 1972, where what were described as IRA arms and explosives were said to have been "captured". The other one related to the blowing-up of a fertiliser store at Carrigans, County Donegal, on 16th October, 1972.
As regards the alleged incursion in County Monaghan, the Garda Síochána say that no information is available which would indicate that any such incident ever occurred.
The fertiliser store at Carrigans was damaged by an explosion on the night of 16th October. According to newspaper reports, the UDA claimed responsibility for this incident, alleging that the target of their attack was a fertiliser factory which was a source of explosive material for the IRA. This was wrong on two counts and I would like to take this opportunity to put the record right. Firstly, the building which was attacked was a fertiliser store and not a fertiliser factory. Secondly, the only materials kept in the store were fertilisers which were not only nonexplosive in themselves but were of such a composition that no explosive substance could be recovered from them.
As I have indicated previously in this House on a number of occasions, the nature and extent of the security arrangements that are in operation along the Border must remain confidential.
In his reply the Minister dealt almost entirely with Question No. 120. I would ask him to deal particularly with No. 119, and to state what steps are being taken to provide security for Garda personnel in view of recent incidents in Border areas?
I dealt with that in the last paragraph of my reply when I said I could not disclose the nature and extent of security measures.
