asked the Minister for Defence if our involvement in the Anglo-Irish Agreement has changed the status, functions, obligations or policy of our Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Forces Obligations and Policy.
3.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
Has there been any change in our defence emphasis on the Border? Has there been any extra pressure on our Army personnel or defence resources as a result of our involvement with the Anglo-Irish Agreement, or has there been any particular emphasis in any defence area?
As I said, the answer is in the negative. The level of patrolling depends on the needs of the situation from time to time. The Army do not have an independent role along the Border. They are merely there in aid of the civil power and to come out when requested by the Garda Síochána. There has been no change in policy in that regard.
As a result of the Anglo-Irish Agreement has there been a change in liaison between the military personnel here and the military personnel north of the Border or the Garda personnel here and the police personnel north of the Border?
There is no liaison between military personnel on this side and the military side on the other side of the Border. I cannot answer for Garda liaison because that is a matter for the Minister for Justice.
Are there more troops employed on Border duties now than there were in the past?
That is a separate question.
I do not have the statistics here.