asked the Minister for Defence if the height and distance limit on aircraft flying near prisons applies to Irish Air Corps aircraft.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aircraft Flying Limit.
20.
The answer is "No".
That was a very quick reply. If there is no distance limit of aircraft flying over prisons, why, when an aircraft appeared over Limerick prison recently, did the security forces, according to the Press, communicate with the Department of Justice who ordered a full alert, bringing out, at considerable expense to the nation, the military from Limerick and the total Garda Force and, again according to the Press, the aircraft was fired upon?
The Press was mistaken. I have a note in front of me dealing with the Limerick incident. The Defence Forces, in aid of the civil power, that is, the Garda, are called out on full alert many times along the Border. Perhaps at this moment there is a full alert somewhere which will be reported to me next week.
If there were the Minister would be there.
(Interruptions.)
The fact that it is necessary to have a full alert at times which does not result in anybody being apprehended or action being taken does not mean that they are unnecessary. Full alerts are often very necessary deterrents.
At 3 p.m. on the 24th June, 1975, a report was received by the Air Corps, Baldonnel, from the Garda Síochána that an unidentified aircraft had been flying some minutes previously within the prohibited air space at Limerick. The Duty Officer at Baldonnel checked with Air Traffic Control, Shannon, who informed him that they had no knowledge of an aircraft in that area at the time mentioned nor could they see any on their radar. This information was passed to the Garda.
As a result of a further Garda approach, an Air Corps Cessna which was returning from Cork airport to Baldonnel at the time—3.40 p.m.— was diverted to Limerick to investigate the report. Southern Command and the Garda were notified of the diversion. The Cessna arrived over Limerick prison at about 4 p.m., just before the information arrived regarding its diversion, and a military guard fired three flares—not rounds of ammunition of any kind—to attract the attention of the pilot of the aircraft which he considered was flying too close to the prison. The pilot saw the flares and changed his position immediately.
The fact that the Air Corps Cessna was en route from Cork to Baldonnel resulted in its being diverted so quickly that it arrived over the prison almost simultaneously with the arrival of information for the military guards at the prison. The pilot of the Cessna did not observe any other aircraft within the prohibited air space.
I want to know where was the Minister for Defence when all this was going on.
The Minister for Defence was doing his job in aid of the civil power and he will see to it that full support is given to the Garda at all times, and Deputy Haughey saw different times.
Now do not draw me on that.
I am glad to do my job.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
I heard the answer and it was "No" to the question that our aircraft have no limits. Why have members of our own Army fired at our own aircraft, even if the things are—whatever you call them—flares?
Flares are not ammunition. I will bring the Deputy out to Baldonnel and show him a flare.
Would the Minister say if he is in direct contact with General Amin?
No, I am not.