asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed security back-up for customs men operating on the Border.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Security Back-up.
13.
Primary responsibility for internal security rests with the Garda Síochána, the role of the Defence Forces in the matter being one of assisting the Garda as required.
I read reports recently of armed people threatening customs officers and in those circumstances would it not be necessary to have an Army back-up to make sure that these men are properly protected?
My information is that these reports were exaggerated. Defence Forces go out in aid of the civil power when asked for by the gardaí, usually by the chief superintendent in the area. We have provided more than 6,000 military parties in the year ended 30th September last and we set up 16,000 joint Garda/Army checkpoints. We sent out more than 3,000 patrols in the same year on the road network along the Border. That was all in aid of the civil power. When they ask for help we give it to them.