Peter Barry
Question:8 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the recent "Panorama" programme relating to the UDR, he has made representations to the British Government on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ulster Defence Regiment.
Austin Currie
Question:13 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the explanation he has received from the Northern Ireland Office for the presence of a UDR patrol in direct contact with the community and without a police presence at 12.30 p.m. on 10 February 1990 on the Pomeroy-Donaghmore Road, County Tyrone, approximately one mile from Pomeroy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The meeting of the Anglo-Irish Conference held in London on 2 March reviewed developments in a number of areas relating to confidence in the security forces. In the course of this discussion, I raised the recent "Panorama" programme which contained deeply disturbing revelations about the UDR. These are issues which have for a long time now been a source of deep anxiety to the Nationalist community in Northern Ireland and to successive Governments here. In particular, I conveyed to the Secretary of State the Government's deep concern about some of the remarks made by the former Chief Constable of the RUC and by the present Commander of the UDR.
I am sure the Deputy will agree that the issues which the "Panorama" programme highlighted and brought to wider attention are quite fundamental and need to be urgently addressed. I can assure the Deputy that we will continue to press the British authorities on the issues in question at future meetings of the Conference.
The representations made by Deputy Currie in relation to the unaccompanied UDR patrol on the Pomeroy-Donaghmore Road were raised in the Anglo-Irish Secretariat in Belfast and an explanation sought as to why it was not accompanied by the police. In response to our having raised the case the British authorities have informed us that the patrol consisted of three UDR teams and that they were accompanied by one policeman.
That is not true.
The British authorities have speculated that the policeman may not have been with the group referred to in Deputy Currie's question.
The Deputy will be aware that the Government remain very concerned about the unsatisfactory rate of accompaniment of UDR patrols and our dissatisfaction in this matter has been forcefully conveyed to the British Government through the Anglo-Irish Conference and Secretariat. The issue was most recently discussed, and our concern again conveyed, at the Conference meeting on 2 March. This meeting also took note of the progress made by the working group established following the meeting of the Conference on 18 October 1989 and charged with making early recommendations on the implementation of the principle of accompaniment. The work of this group is continuing.
Would the Minister not accept that the explanation he got in regard to the incident at 12.30 p.m. on 12 February 1990 was unsatisfactory in so far as the patrol who accosted Deputy Currie were unaccompanied? The explanation given that the three patrols were accompanied by one policeman is not satisfactory given the time of the night and the area in which this encounter took place.
If it would be of benefit to the Minister I could tell him what happened.
Deputy Currie may not intervene now.
As Deputy Barry and Deputy Currie know full well, these matters were raised at the Secretariat. I have reported to the House on the explanation given when we raised this matter with the Northern Ireland authorities through the Secretariat. If any Member of the House has further information which would be helpful to us on this matter we would be glad to receive it from them.
Is the Minister satisfied with the explanation he was given? When he asked about a specific patrol who were in a specific area at a specific time he was told that two of the patrols in the area were unaccompanied, one of which stopped Deputy Currie. Has the Minister conveyed to the British Government his dissatisfaction at that response by them?
It is a two fingered exercise to this Government and the British Government by the UDR.
This is quite irregular during Priority Question Time.
I should refer Deputy Barry to the earlier part of my reply which clearly outlines the concern of the Government at the failure of the British to implement assurances given that accompaniment would be the order of the day save in very exceptional circumstances. As Deputy Barry knows, this matter is very much on the agenda at present between ourselves and the British in regard to the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
Question No. 9.
May I——
Sorry, Deputy, I must call for other questions which must be disposed of during priority question time also.
I appreciate that——
Question No. 9.
I have not finished on this matter.
The Chair is in control of Question Time.
I appreciate that but——
I am calling Question No. 9; the Minister to reply.
I accept your ruling——
Please, Deputy Barry.
——but these are two very important questions and the amount of time allotted to them is totally unsatisfactory.
The Chair is dealing with priority question time as best he can in order to dispose of the questions within the prescribed time, and the Deputy knows that.
The whole thing is ridiculous.