Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 2

Written Answers. - Border Crossings.

Patrick D. Harte

Question:

22 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the construction of major security barriers by the British army at Border crossings in Northern Ireland which were used to close the Border for a period of days or a period of hours each day, thereby causing great inconvenience to the cross-Border traffic, especially traffic from Donegal travelling through Northern Ireland to other parts of the Republic and to European and British destinations; and if he will, as a matter of urgent importance, request the British Government to direct that pedestrians and traffic using the Border crossings be facilitated in every way possible and that no crossing point be closed except for grave reasons.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

I am aware that a number of British army permanent vehicle checkpoints at the Border have been closed at various times in recent months for construction work. I understand that the construction work in question arose because of the recent attacks on the checkpoints at Newry and Coshquin, and the consequent decision of the British authorities to close certain checkpoints during the hours of darkness.

I am fully aware of the severe disruption which closures of Border crossings — both temporary closures for construction purposes and night-time closures — have caused for people living and working in Border areas. In response to the many representations which I have received, I instructed that the closures be raised with the British authorities through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat in Belfast.

The question of cross-Border closures was also on the agenda of the recent meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference where it was agreed by the Secretary of State and myself that it will be the subject of ongoing discussion and consideration in the Secretariat.

The Deputy can be assured that I will continue to impress upon the British authorities the serious social and economic consequences for Border communities arising from these closures. While I appreciate the need for appropriate security measures in the wake of the recent proxy bomb attacks, I am also concerned that local people going about their lawful business, and travelling to and from work, should suffer the minimum of inconvenience as a result of these measures.