asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the British army patrols from the Six Counties observed crossing the Border at Bonahill on the Cashelard Road in County Donegal; and if he has made any protests to the British Government about this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Border Crossing Report.
13.
The only reports available to me of an incursion in the area mentioned by the Deputy referred to an incursion on 23 November last. The reports available to the Garda were not sufficient to enable me to have an approach made to the British authorities about the matter.
My information is that since Christmas there have been continuous incursions, in addition to which in some cases road checks have been carried out. I do not know what to do because the Minister's information is that nothing is happening. Mine is very positively that something is happening.
A question, Deputy.
What are we supposed to do? To photograph them or something like that?
The Garda have investigated and made a report on the matter and nobody in the area was willing to make a statement to them about the incursion alleged. That is my information. There are incursions which we have proved and we have made protests, but in this case there was not sufficient evidence.
Would the Minister contact the Garda further and ask them to keep an eye on this remote place through which many of our people must travel? It is not greatly inhabited; nevertheless it is being visited frequently by the British army.
I will take it up on that basis.
Is it possible that these incursions are part of the agreement that was reached by the previous Taoiseach and carried on by the present Taoiseach and the British Government?
That is absolute nonsense.
Is the agreement nonsense or——
The Deputy is talking absolute nonsense. There is no connection whatever and Deputy Blaney is well aware of that. He has asked a constructive question. The Deputy is trying to muddy the waters.
Within the terms would this possibly account for this incursion by the British army?
It has nothing to do with it.
In other words, it should not arise but it did.