Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Oct 1993

Vol. 434 No. 3

Written Answers. - British Army Patrol Incidents.

Austin Currie

Question:

40 Mr. Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will obtain an explanation from the Northern Ireland Office of the most exceptional circumstances in which a British army patrol, without a police presence, was in direct contact with the community at Dungannon Road, Coalisland, County Tyrone, at 9.30 p.m. on 23 July 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Austin Currie

Question:

107 Mr. Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will obtain an explanation from the Northern Ireland Office of the most exceptional circumstances in which a British army patrol, without a police presence, was in direct contact with the community at Thomas Street, Dungannon, County Tyrone, at 3.45 p.m. on 26 July 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Austin Currie

Question:

108 Mr. Currie asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will obtain an explanation from the Northern Ireland Office of the most exceptional circumstances in which a British army patrol, without a police presence, was in direct contact with the community on the Armagh-Newtownhamilton Road, 8 miles from Armagh, at 5.20 p.m. on 25 July 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 107 and 108 together. I have had the instances of non-accompaniment referred to in the Deputies' questions raised with the British authorities, through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat.

The Government continues to attach very great importance to the application of the principle that the armed forces — including the Royal Irish Regiment — operate only in support of the civil power in Northern Ireland, with the particular objective, as set out in the Hillsborough communique, "of ensuring as rapidly as possible that save in the most exceptional circumstances there is a police presence in all operations which involve direct contact with the community". The Government's firm and abiding objective is to see that the principle of accompaniment is implemented fully, in line with the commitment which was made at the highest level in the Hillsborough communique, and on many occasions subsequently. Anything which falls short of that commitment cannot be regarded as satisfactory.

The British Government have confirmed that they remain committed to the principle of police accompaniment of Army (including the Royal Irish Regiment) operations which involve direct contact with the community and that it is their intention to maximise levels of accompaniment, particularly in sensitive nationalist areas. While they point to increased levels of police accompaniment on the ground, they continue to indicate that a number of practical, logistical or resource constraints make it impossible to guarantee a continuous police accompaniment in all areas. For my part I have made clear the Government's concern that these constraints should not impede the full implementation of the commitment given at the highest level at Hillsborough.

The Government devotes close and continuing attention to the issue of accompaniment. While accompaniment levels do appear to have improved I do not regard the current position as satisfactory. The Deputy can be assured that I shall continue, through the Anglo-Irish Conference, to convey our strong wish to see speedy progress towards the objective of full accompaniment as set out in the Hillsborough Communique.