Deputy Gregory-Independent and Deputy Haughey have been given permission to put questions on private notice to the Minister for Justice in that order. Will Deputy Gregory please read his question?
Private Notice Questions. - Dublin Bombings.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is particularly concerned at the ease with which the UDA group known as the Ulster Freedom Fighters succeeded in planting several lethal anti-personnel bombs in the O'Connell St. area of Dublin city centre; if he regards this as evidence of a serious lapse in security both at the Border and in our capital city, which is causing great concern to people here; if he will detail the measures he has now taken and will take to make any repetition of such an attack at the very least less likely to succeed; and in view of the frightening threats subsequently made by the UFF, if he will make a statement on the matter so as to allay the fears of people here.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the recent bombings in Dublin.
I propose to take the two questions together. As I have already stated in public, the threat posed by the planting of explosive devices in Dublin city centre is being taken very seriously by the Government and is, as I am sure the House will agree, a matter of grave concern to all of us. I would not, however, accept the suggestion that what has happened can reasonably be regarded as a security lapse. Given the length of the Border, the very big number of crossing points, both approved and unapproved, and the constant high volume of cross Border traffic, it would be unrealistic to suggest that security can be so effective as to remove completely the possibility of somebody coming across with a small explosive device and remaining undetected. This reality has to be faced. Even if our security forces were to be doubled or even trebled, irrespective of their state of vigilance, such a degree of security could never be guaranteed. In saying this I want to emphasise that I do not wish to provoke unduly public fears and anxieties. It is essential that the public realise that they too, by their vigilance, have a vital part to play in ensuring that terrorist activities are defeated.
At a meeting yesterday morning, with the Garda Commissioner and other senior Garda personnel who are the people professionally qualified to decide, I discussed the weekend's incidents and the action that should now be taken. The Commissioner outlined to me the additional security measures that the Garda Síochána are taking to deal with this latest threat to the security and well-being of our citizens, not only in Dublin but in other places throughout the country. I have had a further communication from the Commissioner in the matter today and Members of the House will have heard that the Commissioner has organised during the course of this afternoon a further examination of the matter with the chief superintendents from the Border divisions.
The House will be aware that, for obvious reasons, it has never been the practice to give precise details of the security measures that are taken in any particular case and I do not propose to depart from that practice. The Commissioner has also informed me that he has been assured of the full co-operation of the RUC in the context of our cross Border security co-operation arrangements in relation to this latest threat.
While the Garda can be relied on to do their utmost, I want to repeat the point that security measures are not matters that are the sole concern of the Garda Síochána. Every citizen has a duty to take adequate precautions to ensure that he or she does not unwittingly make the work of the terrorist easier. Owners of premises, particularly those where people congregate, have a duty to ensure that close attention is given to measures designed to ensure as far as possible the safety and security of both the people and premises for whom they have a responsibility. On Saturday last, the Garda Síochána visited many premises in the centre of Dublin to give security advice. They will be giving further advice in this regard publicly during the next few days and I urge everybody to heed this advice carefully.
I should like to refer to another matter. During the course of the day there have been a number of bomb scares at premises throughout the city. As far as I have been informed it would appear that all of those have been hoax calls. I should like the House to join with me in declaring very firmly that people who carry out this type of activity are not only committing an offence — they are committing an offence and if they are found they will be prosecuted for it — but are involved in a type of activity that can damage both the security and the morale of the general public. I ask anybody who is involved in this type of activity for frivolous reasons, and there are probably some, to desist immediately from doing it.
Does the Minister agree that the most likely method of terrorist attack will be from car bombs? In view of the many casualties that resulted from the last car bombings in Dublin, something I am very familiar with because many constituents of mine were casualties, I should like to know if the Minister is concerned that the Garda decision not to introduce any car parking restrictions may be unwise and ill-advised particularly in the light of the UFF threat? Will the Minister consider introducing restrictions on car parking at least in the main shopping streets in the area of O'Connell Street in Dublin?
On the specific question of parking restrictions in city centre areas, I should like to remind the Deputy and the House that it is already the case that parking is forbidden through the length of O'Connell Street, in Mary Street and Henry Street, over large sections of Abbey Street, in North Earl Street and, I think — I stand subject to correction on this — over an area of Talbot Street. I am not breaking my principle of not revealing the full amount of security measures by stating that some of the measures will obviously have to consist of a more strict application of the parking regulations in those centre city areas. It is an area where I ask the public to co-operate in their own interests.
I am sure the Minister is aware that he will have from this side of the House every possible support and co-operation in dealing with this matter. The Minister will notice also that my question is in the form of simply asking for a statement from him so that we can have as much reassurance for the general public as possible while, at the same time, dealing with the matter as seriously as it requires. I should like to ask the Minister whether he has been correctly reported as having said that some inhibitions on forays and excursions in the form of road blocks which had previously been in place were not in place on this occasion? Will the Minister give the House an assurance that all possible precautions, particularly in Border areas, will be taken as well as whatever action the Garda may feel it necessary to take in the capital city and elsewhere? I should like to ask the Minister to give us whatever assurance he can in regard to the adequacy of the arrangements for prevention of these incidents which are being taken by the Northern Ireland authorities and, indeed, by the British authorities.
On the first matter raised by Deputy Haughey, I can inform the House that all necessary measures will be taken by the Garda Síochána to prevent and detect this type of activity. There will be a substantial increase in the level of certain kinds of activities by the Garda Síochána in the area around Dublin, along the Border and in other centres of population. I do not wish to go any further than that for reasons which I am sure are obvious to the House but I should like to assure the House that the Commissioner and I are anxious that all practicable steps can be taken that will have the effect of dissuading people getting involved in this type of activity.
As I said in my original reply, the Garda Commissioner has been assured by the RUC of their full co-operation to the extent that within our cross-Border security operation arrangements they can make a contribution and I am quite sure they can. I have no fears on that score, that we will get every possible co-operation.
I should like to ask the Minister to give us an assurance that if necessary he will come before the House again and keep us informed of any important or significant developments or, indeed, any further statements he may wish to make as far as precautions by the general public are concerned. In other words, I am anxious that our six months rule — it will shortly be a four months rule — will not apply in regard to this matter. I want the Minister to assure us that the public are kept as fully informed as possible of the position and, in particular, of the seriousness of this, should that be demanded.
As I said in my original reply, the Garda authorities over the next few days will be giving on a much wider scale and in public some advice in relation to the contribution the general public can make to security arrangements. I hope particular attention will be paid to this piece of advice. I hope, and I think Deputy Haughey will join with me in this, it will not be necessary to come before the House to talk about this at any stage in the future. Should it be the case I hope it will be in circumstances where we will be able to show we have prevented activity of this kind taking place. I can readily give an assurance to the House that should there be any serious developments that merit further discussion here I will certainly bring them forward.
I should like to state sincerely that I do not mean to be unfairly critical of the Garda Síochána or obstructive in any way in asking the Minister if there was an immediate action plan introduced following the discovery of the bombs on Saturday. With regard to my earlier question about car parking, I should like to point out that late on Saturday night cars were illegally parked the whole length of O'Connell Street, the street where the bombs had been found on Saturday morning. Will the Minister agree that if there is such a threat posed in the future there should be an immediate response and not one that takes a number of days to introduce? Will he ensure that the car parking problem — which I view as the main threat and the main hindrance to the Garda Síochána in locating the people responsible — is dealt with by removing speedily cars that are illegally parked, particularly on the main shopping streets?
It is not correct to say there was no immediate action by the Garda after the first incident. They went into action very quickly. I take the Deputy's point about illegal parking in O'Connell Street, even on Saturday nights. I emphasise again that it is not enough for the Garda to take the steps that are open to them: they must also have the co-operation of the general public. For what it is worth, at one point on Saturday afternoon I was in Grafton Street during a break between two bits of business — I was with my children — and I saw a car illegally parked in Grafton Street, benefiting from the tender attentions of three members of the Garda.
I would ask the House to appreciate our position in Border areas. Four crackers in Dublin almost caused panic. Let it be a warning to those who talk about the withdrawal of the military from Border security duty that there are people who live on the Border who do not like that type of empty politics.