asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the inconvenience caused to travellers between Donegal and points south-east of the Border and of the adverse effects on tourist traffic caused by the long delays occasioned by British Army checkpoints along the Border especially at Aughnacloy, Strabane and Culmore; and, if so, if he will state the action he has taken or proposes to take to ease the situation to at least bearable proportions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Border Checkpoints.
31.
The British authorities are aware of the anxiety of the Government that the inconvenience caused to traffic by the presence of cross-Border security checkpoints should be minimised. However, checkpoints are necessary for security purposes and as long as the present situation continues, some measure of inconvenience will be inevitable.
I am not aware that such delays have had the adverse effect on tourist traffic to which the Deputy refers; I repeat what I have recently told this House in a similar context, that damage to our tourism arises from more fundamental causes than such checkpoints.
When representations are made to me about the situation at any particular crossing, the matter is investigated and, where appropriate, the question is pursued with the British authorities. I have received no such representations in regard to Strabance or Culmore. Delays at Aughnacloy have, however, frequently, come to my attention. While accepting the exigencies of the security situation, I share with the Deputy the view that delays at this point are over-long and have made this known to the British authorities.
Is the Minister aware that it is now clear, after a number of years of experience, that very special intimidatory checkpoint procedures are in operation at Aughnacloy and, to a lesser degree, at Strabane and to the full degree at Culmore? Would he agree that there is a significance in this? I ask the Minister to take note of the fact that it appears that this special treatment is in order to initimidate travellers between points south-east of the Border and Donegal county which belongs to the rest of the Twenty-six counties.
Frankly, I am not aware of the problems at Strabane and Culmore. Nothing about problems at those points has been drawn to my attention. I note what the Deputy says and I would be happy to have any concrete information from him about problems there so that I could take whatever action might be appropriate. There is a serious problem of delay at Aughnacloy. On the occasions I have crossed there I have been lucky but I know that on occasions there were extremely long delays and while provision has been made to process a number of cars simultaneously that arrangement does not seem to be effective most of the time. There is a delay problem there which is quite serious and in respect of which we have had to make frequent representations. These have led to facilities being provided that would enable a faster processing of vehicles but the manning has not matched the facilities and as a result the delays are disturbingly long at times.
May I further ask the Minister personally to go into this matter urgently in view of the fact that while the facilities are there they are not being manned by the British? They are obviously deliberately being undermanned, and even the manpower available is being under-used and the delays are completely unnecessary. Checks are made on the double within the same compound which can have no purpose other than delay and intimidation. Finally—I put this seriously to the Minister—will all those who are likely to be going to Donegal in the weeks ahead please go by that traditional route unannounced so that there will be no special arrangements made to see them through quickly and so that they will get firsthand experience of the sort of tortuous procedure that those who must use that route have to undergo?
I do not know about the benefit of special procedures. They have just been lucky to go there at times when very few vehicles are passing. I am well aware of the delays. I know what the Deputy has said about them and we will certainly make further representations in the matter.
Would the Minister bear in mind in his representations that we depend heavily on our tourist industry in Donegal and that this industry has been growing due to more east coast residents coming through, that it should be possible to bring home to people living on the coast that the short route to Donegal is that route and that there should be no intimidation on the way? I would ask the Minister to do this urgently because of its very great importance. Again I say: please come that way when you are travelling to Donegal and do not tell them you are coming until you see what sort of treatment you get.
It is only a short route if you are not delayed there for several hours.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.