asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a report stating that the United States Department of Defense has conclusive proof that the arms shipment captured on the Eksund came from Libya; whether this proof has been conveyed to the Irish Government; and, if not, if he will request such proof from the United States Department of Defense.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Eksund Arms Shipment.
6.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to a State Department report or fact sheet of 7 January 1989 which stated that there is conclusive evidence that the Eksund shipment originated in Libya. We asked the American authorities through our embassy in Washington if the reported evidence could be made available. I understand that the US authorities in reply pointed to the case which is at present before the French courts. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate in these circumstances to comment further on the matter.
I would remind the Deputy that my colleague, the Minister for Justice said in the Dáil on 14 December 1988 — column 1597-1598 of the Official Report — that the Garda are carrying out investigations into the source of the arms found on the Eksund and these investigations are still ongoing.
Do I understand from the Minister's reply that the source of this article he referred to was not an independent proof by the American authorities but rather the fact that the case was before the French courts?
Information has been conveyed by the American State Department to the French authorities. I am aware of the presence of such information but I am not aware of its contents. The American State Department take the view that as the matter is before the French courts that is the place to give any relevant information they have on the subject. Any inquiries about this matter and about what evidence will be brought to bear in the matter should be directed to the French Government. That is the response that our Embassy in Washington has received from the American State Department.
Has the Minister pursued the French Government as indicated by the American Government?
It is a matter for the courts. That is the French response to it as well. We have taken it up with the French and they say it is entirely a matter for their courts and their institutions. That is the situation.
I must now proceed to deal with ordinary questions.
May I ask one brief supplementary?
Yes.
As the Minister knows I have been questioning him about the supply of arms and explosives from Libya for a number of months now. In fact it is over a year. Does he not think, in view of the circumstantial evidence and the reply he got from the French Government and the American Government, it is time for him to directly approach the Libyan Government and tell them we do not want explosives or arms sent to an organisation in this country whose avowed aim is to destroy this country, North and South.
As the Deputy is well aware, the Libyans were informed immediately after the apprehension of the Eksund of the serious view we take of any country which supplies arms to the IRA. We have made that point of view known to the Libyan Government on several occasions and we have acted on it. A joint trade commission, which was to have taken place in November 1986, was postponed and has not yet been held following the seizure of the Eksund. I want to repeat that the American authorities are firmly of the view that this is now a matter for the French authorities. It is the French, not the Americans, who have the evidence and they see it as a matter for the French authorities and the French courts how they use whatever information or evidence they may have of an intelligence or other kind. That is the view taken by the State Department and also expressed by the French authorities. The matter rests there.