asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will protest to the British Government against the use of the SAS in Northern Ireland and if he will call for their immediate withdrawal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British SAS.
28.
Aspects of British Army operations in Northern Ireland which cause concern have been raised with the British authorities from time to time. We shall continue to do so if considered necessary. In accordance with previous practice I would not regard it as helpful to enter into details of our communications with the British Government in these matters.
Would the Minister acknowledge that the unit which to quote an army officer "are trained to kill swiftly and silently behind enemy lines" would warrant the strongest possible protest from this Government?
Further arising from——
Could I have a reply from the Minister on that?
That is for the Chair to say.
The Deputy's sentence is incomplete in some way, I feel. I find it hard to answer it in that form.
In view of the acknowledgement of the involvement of the SAS in Northern Ireland and their stated purpose which is what I quoted, "trained to kill swiftly and silently behind enemy lines", does the Minister not think that that does demand the strongest direct protest from this Government?
With respect, I do not think the Deputy has correctly represented the newspaper reports concerned which, if I remember correctly, referred to the question of individuals who have been in the past members of the SAS being in Northern Ireland. I think the Deputy may be slightly off the mark on that one.
Defend them.
Is the Minister now creating a distinction between individuals who have been in the past members of the SAS operating as civilians for this purpose in Northern Ireland or still operating with the formal blessing of the SAS? Is the Minister making a distinction there?
The distinction I make is this: I have no direct information on this beyond a newspaper report.
: The Times.
I have no direct information other than this that would correspond with what the Deputy has said. There has been no information, no allegation, no suggestion that SAS units have been operating in Northern Ireland. There has been a suggestion that people who served with the SAS have been operating in Northern Ireland.
May I draw the attention of the Minister to one other matter which would seem to confirm the accuracy of that report, namely, that it was suggested in that report——
Is the Deputy making a statement rather than asking a question?
——that the unit operated particularly in Malaya, Borneo. Oman and Aden——
The Deputy is making a statement.
I would mention to the Minister that the Parker Commission set up to consider authorised procedures for what is called the interrogation of persons suspected of terrorism indicates——
I cannot allow the Deputy to continue in this vein. This is Question Time.
This is very important.
I have given the Deputy discretion to ask a question but he is making a statement.
I am giving the Chair the quotation.
Quotations are not in order at Question Time.
Interrogation in-depth procedures were practised in Malaya, Aden, Borneo——
The Deputy is continuing to quote. He is making a statement.
The unit involved in this procedure——
I want to assist the Deputy but he may not make a statement. I am calling Deputy Blaney.
I note the Deputy's inference——
It is a strong inference.
I have no information beyond what is in the Press report.
Has the Minister sought any further information?
The information I have received on this matter does not go beyond that stated in the Press report. Neither does it state that there is any further involvement than that stated in the Press report. The Deputy will have to understand that my information as to the facts of what happens in Northern Ireland necessarily is limited and it is not always easy to establish the facts.
Deputy Blaney has been called by the Chair.
This is a matter of life and death.
The Chair has called Deputy Blaney.
Can the Minister state whether he or anyone in the British Government or in the Home Office have any real knowledge of what members of the armed personnel in the Six Counties belong to the SAS? Is the Minister satisfied that any member of the British occupation forces should remain on our territory? It is not only the SAS who are objectionable. If the Minister could experience, week in and week out, what these people are doing——
The Deputy is enlarging on his question.
I would ask the Minister to try to ascertain, by experience if possible, the nefarious safari across the Border by soldiers on foot, by helicopters, in motorised——
This is Question Time.
I am aware of that but I want the Minister to register his protest at the occupation of our country and the infringement of that artificial border by those people. It does not matter a damn whether they are SAS or anyone else, out they should go. There will be no satisfaction until they go.
As the Deputy is aware, any infringement of our Border is always taken up——
On last Sunday——
The Deputy has asked a question; he should await the Minister's reply with some courtesy.
The Minister does not want to know——
The SAS did not shoot Billy Fox.
Does the Deputy know who did it?
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy does not want to know the answer. I am aware of the Deputy's concern to leave a vacuum in Northern Ireland that would give no protection for the minority in the eastern part of Northern Ireland.
The Minister knows nothing about it. I have been listening to that for a long time——
Order. The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
I wish to give notice that I propose to raise on the Adjournment this evening the following matter: the part played by the Minister for Defence during the past week in the course of the search for arms.
I shall communicate with the Deputy.
(Interruptions.)
Order.