asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the United States authorities have given him an explanation about the use of forged Irish passports by United States officials last November; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Forged Passports.
43.
I would refer the Deputy to the answers of 24 March 1987 and of 27 March 1986 for details of the actions taken by the Irish authorities in relation to the reports alleging the misuse of Irish passports by US personnel. Since then our embassy at Washington has had further contacts with the US authorities in the matter and has been monitoring the course of certain US official investigations which may have a bearing on the issue. To date no further information has become available.
As regards the position of the US Government I would refer Deputies to the statement made by Secretary of State Schulz to my predecessor on 6 November 1986 and to me on 16 March 1987 when he indicated that he accepted the position of the Irish Government that any misuse of Irish passports was totally unacceptable.
Did the Minister make a mistake in one of the dates? The Minister quoted March 1986 as being one of the dates?
March 1986 is what I have here.
The incident took place after that, so there could hardly be a question down then, but it does not matter. Since that question in March one of the witnesses before the Senate hearings in Washington admitted that they used forged Irish passports. Has the Minister taken that up with the administration in the US?
I have. We have taken that up with the US authorities but they were not very forthcoming in this matter because of security implications and because of Iran implications.
Surely the Minister is not telling me that if a friendly state uses forged Irish passports for a covert operation, he will be palmed off by their not being very forthcoming? The Minister should push that a lot harder as this is a matter of great concern to us.
I will take it up further in view of the Deputy's proper interest in the matter and I will see how much progress I can make.
I do not want it circulated with the Official Report.
It will not be.