asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he granted permission to the British Army to land helicopters in this State.
25.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Army Helicopters.
24.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the date on which he received the first request from the British authorities to permit their helicopters to carry out surveillance across the Border.
26.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of occasions on which British Army helicopters have crossed the Border with his permission; and if he will give the dates and the locations of the crossings.
27.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of occasions on which permission was granted to British Army helicopters to overfly County Donegal.
With your permission a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25, 26 and 27 together.
Permission has been granted on three occasions for overflights by helicopters, two involving landings. The reasons for granting permission were to save lives. It is normal practice to consult the Minister for Defence before such a decision is taken. No permission was granted for an overflight over Donegal.
Will the Minister state how many times on the three occasions he has mentioned he personally gave permission or delegated somebody to give permission?
The first occasion was on 27th January, 1973 when I had no authority to give permission in the matter. The second was on 4th May, 1973, and the third occasion was on 28th August, 1973.
The Minister for Defence has stated that the Minister for Foreign Affairs was absent when these requests were made. I should like the Minister to clarify the position.
Ministers are absent at times and appropriate arrangements are made when this happens. I was absent on 28th August, 1973.
The Minister personally did not give permission at any time?
Not on the 28th August.
We cannot have an argument about this matter. We must conduct Question Time in an orderly fashion by way of question and answer.
I should like the Minister to state that in future he will not give permission because I think it is against the wishes of the Irish people and the Army authorities.
Fianna Fáil gave permission in January.
It has been the practice to give permission where lives are at stake. The previous Government did so on 27th January, 1973, and we have done so on two other occasions. I propose to continue that practice where there is a question of human life being at stake.
With regard to Question No. 27, in view of the fact that permission has not been given for these daily incursions—sometimes twice daily—at various points along the land and the sea frontiers in Donegal, what does the Minister or the Department of Defence propose to do? Have protests been made? Are protests being made now? Have the British authorities been told they are doing something without authority?
There have been a number of occasions, in relation to Donegal in particular, where there have been helicopter infringements. In each case when these infringements have been brought to our attention representations have been made to the British authorities. In some instances they have acknowledged and expressed regret for these incidents; I think in other cases they have denied they took place and there is a conflict of evidence.
Can the Minister state how recent have been his protests in regard to Donegal?
Not very recently because there have not been any incursions reported to us in the last two and a half months. In the period prior to that, both in the term of office of the previous Government and this Government, there were a number of incursions and I think both Governments followed the same procedure of immediately making representations when they had such reports.
With regard to the Minister's reply——
I consider this matter has been discussed adequately. I am calling Question No. 28.
If the Minister gets information regarding regular daily incursions will he take the matter up?
I should welcome any such information, as detailed as possible as to the place and time. I can assure the Deputy any infringements of our airspace without the authority and permission of the Irish Government will be taken up immediately with the British Government.