asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress he has made towards having an acceptable compromise reached regarding the occupation of portion of the GAA grounds at Crossmaglen, County Armagh by units of the British Army.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Crossmaglen GAA Grounds .
20.
: Since I took office I have expressed the Government's anxiety about developments at Crossmaglen GAA grounds to the British authorities on a number of occasions. Most recently I availed of the meeting which I had on 13 October with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Atkins, to convey the Government's concern about the situation and the continuing need to achieve a comprehensive resolution of the problem.
Since I spoke to the House about the matter on 25 March 1980 approximately half the property requisitioned by the British authorities has been restored to the Crossmaglen Rangers Club. Our desire to have all the property returned to the club as soon as possible has always been made clear to the British authorities and I can assure the House that the Government, in close consultation with the GAA, will make every effort to have the balance of the requisitioned land returned and the rights of the club restored at the earliest possible date.
: Would the Minister agree that subversive activities in this area could give a false impression of the intentions and aims of the GAA? Would he further agree that the military position on this matter has aggravated the situation?
: To put it mildly, I agree that there are a number of aggravating factors, some of which have been referred to by the Deputy.
: Is it not a fact that, in reply to a question raised in this House on 25 March, the Minister assured us that after discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the grounds would be handed back to the GAA? Yet within two days of giving that reply the British Army took over more of the GAA grounds in Crossmaglen. Would the Minister care to comment?
: I repeat what I said in my reply. I wish the Deputy would listen. Since I spoke to the House about the matter on 25 March 1980 approximately half the property requisitioned by the British authorities has been restored to the Crossmaglen Rangers Club. That was on my direct representations.
: The Minister may have misunderstood what I said. On 25 March——
: A question, Deputy.
: ——the Minister stated in this House that he had made representations to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and had been assured that in the immediate future the grounds would be handed back to the club. Within two days of that statement the British Army took over more of the GAA grounds in Crossmaglen.
: The Deputy must ask a question.
: How can the Minister reconcile that?
: I have reconciled it in my reply and in my supplementary. Since I spoke to the House on 25 March half the property has been restored to the club. I want all the property restored.
: The Minister did not give all the facts then. Why should he give them all now?