Vol. 485 No. 1
58 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will pursue, with the British Government, the need to remove the permanent vehicle checkpoints at Mullan, Gortmullan and Wattlebridge on the Fermanagh and Cavan Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22572/97]
The Government's view is that permanent vehicle checkpoints, including those at Mullan, Gortmullan and Wattlebridge, should be removed as soon as possible.
We welcome the removal of six permanent vehicle checkpoints since September 1994 but would like to see greater progress. The recent decision to remove the street furniture of the vehicle checkpoint structure at Cloghoge on the Dublin-Newry road is a positive step.
I would assure the Deputy that we will continue to make representations within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference seeking the removal of permanent vehicle checkpoints, including those at Mullan, Gortmullan and Wattlebridge. We believe that greater progress on this issue would provide a further tangible response to the reduced security threat and would contribute to the building of confidence and trust.
